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

Dozens of homes 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 Poulnagunogue (Poulavanogue) Public Water Supply. This, it it says, is due to elevated turbidity, which has affected treatment at the water treatment plant.

Around 84 homes, on the outskirts of Clonmel, are impacted by the Boil Water Notice which was issued this Tuesday afternoon.

Uisce Éireann’s Maura Phelan has acknowledged the impact the notice will have on the community, and she is assuring customers that Uisce Éireann are working to safely lift the notice in the shortest possible timeframe.
 
“We regret any inconvenience caused to impacted customers. The notice has been put in place to protect the health of customers on the Waterford Poulavanogue Public Water Supply. Public health is our number one priority, and we would like to assure customers that we are working to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible," she said.

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Uisce Éireann says the notice relates to the smaller of the two public water schemes in Poulnagunogue and that it applies to customers on the scheme which was historically managed by Waterford County Council.
  
Customers can check if their property is included by visiting the water quality section of the Uisce Éireann webite and entering the property’s Eircode (see map).  

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.