ALERT: Boil Water Notice issued for hundreds of homes in Waterford amid health fears

Nearly 2,000 households in County Waterford are being told to boil water from their local public supply before consumption.

Uisce Éireann has issued a Boil Water Notice for customers who are supplied by the Carrick On Suir (Crotty’s Lake) Water Supply. This, it it says, is due to operational issues water treatment plant. 

The notice applies to all areas on the Carrick on Suir (Crotty’s Lake) Public Water Supply and all consumers affected by this notice must boil their water before drinking.

The areas impacted by the notice include:

* All areas South of the river except Friar Street Upper, Corpse Road, Rack Hill, South Quay and Bridge street

* North side of the River Suir. The areas of Hazel Close, Hawthorn Crescent, Asgrove, Oak Drive, Beech Ave, Sycamore Close and Mount Saint Nicholas are included in the area affected by the Boil Water Notice

* Townlands of Ross, Clonmoyle, Ballyhest, Ballygarret, Sheskin, Curraghduff, Joanstown in Co. Waterford

In a public notice, Uisce Éireann says the Boil Water Notice does not apply to Uisce Éireann customers supplied by the Carrick On Suir Linguan Water Supply. 

"All consumers affected by this notice must boil their water before drinking. Uisce Éireann’s primary focus is and always will be the protection of public health. Drinking water experts from Uisce Éireann are working, in consultation with the HSE, to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible. In the meantime, all customers on this supply are advised to boil and cool their water before use until further notice," said a spokesperson.

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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 and allow to cool. Cover and store in a refrigerator or cold place. 

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

* Preparing Infant Formula

Uisce Éireann is advising those affected by the Boil Water Notice that domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink.