Boil water notice for Laois area

A BOIL water notice has been issued for customers of a public water supply in Laois.

The warning was issued by Uisce Éireann at 11.30 this morning, following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The notice affects residents using the Lough Public Water Supply, which includes Killenard, Garryvacum, Ballybrittas, Lough, Ballycarroll and surrounding areas. Nearly 1,900 properties are affected.

In a statement, the water utility said: ‘Following consultation with the HSE, Uisce Éireann has issued a Boil Water Notice to protect the health of approximately 1,872 customers supplied by the Lough Public Water Supply Scheme. 

'This notice is being issued due to a microbiological failure from a single sample on the network.'

Customers can check if their property is included by visiting the Water Quality section and entering the property’s Eircode, or by calling the 24/7 Uisce Éireann customer care helpline on 1800 278 278.

The utility said that drinking water experts from Uisce Éireann are working to lift the notice 'as quickly and as safely as possible', in consultation with the HSE. In the meantime, all customers on the Lough supply are advised to boil water before use until further notice.

Uisce Éireann’s James Joyce apologised to impacted customers, saying “Public health is Uisce Éireann's number one priority and we would like to assure customers that the notice has been put in place to protect public health. 

"We acknowledge the inconvenience caused to homes and businesses and would like to assure customers that we are working to resolve the issue and lift the notice as quickly and as safely possible.” 

The utility said that Uisce Éireann’s drinking water standards 'as per EU Drinking Water regulations, are strict and include wide safety margins'. 

The statement added: 'Where risks to water quality are identified through the utility's enhanced testing and monitoring programme, the HSE are consulted and Boil Water Notices are issued to protect public health. 

'In all instances, immediate action is taken to address the cause of the issue to enable the lifting of the notice as quickly as it safe to do so, in agreement with the HSE.'

Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann receive direct communication on Boil Water Notices. The water is safe to consume once boiled.

The company issued the following advice:

Water must be boiled for:

• Drinking

• Drinks made with water

• Preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating

• Brushing of teeth

• Making of ice - discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges. Make ice from cooled boiled water

Additional advice:

• Use water prepared for drinking when preparing foods that will not be cooked (e.g. washing salads)

• Water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets but not for brushing teeth or gargling

• Boil water by bringing to a vigorous, rolling boil (e.g. with an automatic kettle) and allow to cool. Cover and store in a refrigerator or cold place. Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink. Domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink

• Caution should be taken when bathing children, to ensure that they do not swallow the bathing water

• Preparing Infant Formula: Where a Boil Water Notice is in place, you can prepare infant formula from tap water that has been boiled once (rolling boil for one minute) and cooled beforehand. Bottled water can also be used to make up infant formula 

All bottled water, except for natural mineral water, is regulated to the same standard as drinking water. It is best not to use bottled water labelled as ‘Natural Mineral Water’ as it can have high levels of sodium (salt) and other minerals, although it rarely does. ‘Natural Mineral Water’ can be used if no other water is available, for as short a time as possible, as it is important to keep babies hydrated. 

If bottled water is used to make up infant formula it should be boiled once (rolling boil for one minute) and cooled in the normal way. Ready-to-use formula that does not need added water can also be used. Great care should be taken with boiled water to avoid burns and scalds, as accidents can easily happen, especially with children.

Customers can stay informed about their local water supply by visiting www.water.ie, via Uisce Éireann’s X feed, @IWCare, or by signing up for the free text alert service via the website. Alternatively, contact the 24/7 customer care centre at 1800 278 278.