No change to water situation in Mayo as weekend looms

IRISH Water and Mayo County Council have issued a statement reminding customers supplied with water from the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply Scheme and associated Group Water Schemes that the boil water notice which was issued on the scheme on Friday, September 2, remains in place and the public are urged to continue boiling their water before drinking and for use in food preparation.

The Incident Management Team which was set up immediately after the issuing of the boil water notice on Friday, September 2d, are awaiting the written results of the Environmental Protection Agency’s report following their comprehensive audit of the Lough Mask Water Treatment Plant on Tuesday, September 6. This report is imminent and on receipt of same the Incident Management Team will immediately evaluate and action its findings and recommendations.

Since the positive result on Friday September 2, daily sampling at the source, at the treatment plant and on the network has not identified any further presence of cryptosporidium. However, in the interest of public health the sampling programme and investigations will continue throughout the incubation period and a full and comprehensive update will be issued early next week once these results are analysed in conjunction with the EPA report.

Throughout this period people are urged to continue to boil water for drinking and before use in food preparation.

The incident continues to be given priority status by all agencies involved and the Incident Management Team is working to ensure a speedy resolution.

“Public health has to be our priority,” explained Irish Water’s Regional Information Specialist Sean Corrigan. “Investigations are continuing at the plant and throughout the network. Irish Water, Mayo County Council and the HSE are treating this as a priority and every level of these organisations is working to find a speedy resolution to this incident,” he added.

Irish Water, Mayo County Council and the HSE continue to implement the agreed action plan and remain in constant communication.

All vulnerable customers who self-registered with Irish Water have been contacted by telephone.

Up to 46,500 people who are supplied from the Lough Mask Water Treatment Plant and associated group water schemes are reminded that:

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.

• Prepare infant feeds with water that has been brought to the boil once and cooled. Do not use water that has been re-boiled several times. If bottled water is used for the preparation of infant feeds it should be boiled once and cooled. If you are using bottled water for preparing baby food, be aware that some natural mineral water may have high sodium content. The legal limit for sodium in drinking water is 200mg per litre. Check the label on the bottled water to make sure the sodium or 'Na' is not greater than 200mg per litre. If it is, then it is advisable to use a different type of bottled water. If no other water is available, then use this water for as short a time as possible. It is important to keep babies hydrated.

 Anyone suffering from diarrhoea for more than two days should contact their general practitioner and provide a stool sample for testing. They should continue to drink plenty of boiled or bottled water.

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

 A map of the affected area is available on www.water.ie and www.mayococo.ie and anyone with queries can contact the Irish Water helpline on 1850 278 278.

Irish Water and Mayo County Council are urging the public to continue to follow the advice of the HSE and boil water before consumption.

Public health is the priority for all agencies involved and Irish Water and Mayo County Council would like to apologise for the inconvenience this has caused to families, businesses and the agricultural community. Ends