Charlestown off boil water list

CHARLESTOWN has been removed from the boil water notice affecting the Lough Talt public water supply. Meanwhile, Moylough Group Water Scheme near the Mayo/Sligo border has been added.

The boil water notice was issued on Monday following the detection of cryptosporidium in the treated water coming from the plant after a routine test.

Areas affected include the towns of Tubbercurry and Ballymote and a large rural hinterland including the villages of Annagh, Aclare, Bellaghy, Bunnanaddan, Curry, Lavagh, Ballanacarrow, Carroweden, Kilmacteige, Quarryfield and Coolaney. The boil notice also includes customers supplied by the Ogham Group Water Scheme (GWS) in Co. Sligo.

The following areas in Co. Mayo are also affected: Cloontia, Doocastle, and the Moylough GWS.

An action plan has been implemented by the incident management team which includes a two-week testing and sampling programme in several areas throughout the scheme which has been agreed with the HSE. This sampling plan will commence today (Wednesday).

Following this the results of the suite of tests carried out over the two-week period will be reviewed collectively by all stakeholders involved before further action is advised by the HSE.

In addition, Irish Water will be increasing its routine scouring programme over the next few days throughout the network which may cause some discolouration to water. Customers who experience discolouration should run their tap until the water runs clear.

Customers are reminded to continue to boil water before consumption.

Commenting, Seamus Granahan, Regional Asset Operations Manager, said: “If further positive results for cryptosporidium are confirmed it is likely that the boil water notice will be extended until additional treatment process barriers are put in place. This will involve the construction of a new water treatment plant for which planning permission will be required.

The incident management team will continue to liaise with the HSE and give this incident its full attention.”

Customers are advised that all water for human consumption including the washing of teeth, making of ice and in the preparation of food that is not cooked must be boiled before use and it is imperative that people adhere to the boil water notice.

 

Further information and additional advice for customers is available on www.water.ie or by calling 1850 278 278.