ALERT: Thousands of Waterford households warned not to drink water from public supply

Around 4,000 households in County Waterford are being advised the public water being supplied to their homes is not safe to consume.

Following consultation with the Health Service Executive, Uisce Éireann has issued a Boil Water Notice to protect the health of customers supplied by the Carrick on Suir (Linguan) Public Water Supply Scheme. 

The notice was as a result of treatment issues at the water treatment plant, which caused the drinking water quality entering the water supply to be affected.

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The State utility says areas impacted include all customers on the Carrick on Suir (Linguan) Public Water Supply which includes North side of the River Suir as well as Friar Street Upper, Corpse Road, Rack Hill, South Quay and Bridge Street on the South side of the River Suir and surrounding areas.

All consumers affected by the notice (see map below) must boil their water before drinking it.  

Uisce Éireann says several areas on the northside of River Suir are not impacted by the Boil Water Notice as are they are supplied from another scheme. These areas include Hazel Close, Hawthorn Cresent, Asgrove, Oak Drive, Beech Ave, Sycamore Close and Mount Saint Nicholas. 

Uisce Éireann says its primary focus is and always will be the protection of public health and that drinking water experts are working, in consultation with the HSE, to implement solutions to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible.

“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 are working to resolve the issue and lift the notice as quickly and safely as possible," commented Colin Cunningham of Uisce Éireann.

Those impacted by the Boil Water Noice must boiled water for the following uses:

* 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.

Great care should be taken with boiled water to avoid burns and scalds as accidents can easily happen, especially with children.

For updates on the Boil Water Notice, click here.