LATEST: Boil water notice issued almost two months ago still in place in Tipperary

An important update has been issued by Uisce Éireann to locals in Tipperary who have been living with a boil water notice for almost two months. 

Uisce Éireann ihas said that they are continuing works to lift the Boil Water Notice in place for customers supplied by the Cordangan Water Treatment Plant in Tipperary Town.

The Boil Water Notice was issued on Thursday, 12 February to protect the health of customers on the Tipperary Town Supply.

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The noticed was issued due to high turbidity in the raw water supply which affected the treatment process at Cordangan Water Treatment Plant.

Uisce Éireann’s primary focus is and always will be the protection of public health. Remedial works are continuing at the water treatment plant and monitoring of the supply is ongoing.

These results will be kept under review and shared with the HSE as we continue to liaise with them.

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In the meantime, all customers on the Tipperary Town Public Water Supply are advised to boil their water before use until further notice.

Pierce Faherty, Uisce Éireann Water Operations Manager for Tipperary, said: “We understand the frustration and inconvenience that the Boil Water Notice is causing for our domestic and business customers. We want to assure customers that every effort is being made to resolve these issues and allow for the lifting of the notice.

“Uisce Éireann’s number one priority remains public health, and this notice remains in place to protect the health of everyone on the Tipperary Town supply. We again thank impacted residents and businesses for their patience as we continue works to resolve the issue.”

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

A map of the area is also available to view on the supply and service section of water.ie

"Uisce Éireann’s drinking water standards, as per EU Drinking Water regulations, are strict and include wide safety margins," say the company.

"Where risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Éireann’s enhanced testing and monitoring programme, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is 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. Customers are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled and cooled."

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.

What actions should be taken:

• 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 1 minute) and cooled beforehand. Bottled water can also be used to make up infant formula. All bottled water, with the exception of 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 1 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.

Updates are available on the companies Water Supply Updates section on www.water.ie.