UISCE Éireann does not know when a boil notice issued for parts Limerick City and its environs, issued on Thursday evening (May 15), will be lifted.
The water utility issued the boil water notice for parts of Limerick City including Corbally, Mill Road, Moyross, and Long Pavement.
Areas in County Clare are also included in the notice, namely Westbury, Parteen, Larkins Cross, Ardnacrusha, Shannon Banks, Knocklisheen, and Clonlara.
Uisce Éireann (UÉ) said the notice is for the above listed areas supplied by the Limerick City and Environs Public Water Supply.
According to UÉ, the notice was issued “to protect the health of customers due to possible inadequate disinfection (chlorine dosing) at the plant and leaving the Newcastle reservoir” in the Monaleen area.
“All consumers affected by this notice must boil their water before drinking.”
UÉ said that homes and businesses on the supply line must boil water for drinking; drinks made with water; preparation of foods which are not cooked prior to eating; brushing teeth; making ice.
Ice and filtered water should also be discarded and re-made from cooled boiled water, with UÉ warning that “domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink”.
UÉ advised that drinking water experts “are working to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible, in consultation with the HSE”.
An Uisce Éireann representative said the utility “regrets the inconvenience to impacted customers”.
“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 acknowledge the inconvenience caused to homes and businesses and would like to assure customers that we are working to resolve the issue and lift the notice as quickly and as safely possible.
“Uisce Éireann’s drinking water standards, as per EU Drinking Water regulations, are strict and include wide safety margins. Where risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Éireann’s enhanced testing and monitoring programme, the HSE is consulted, and boil water notices are issued to protect public health.
“In all instances immediate action is taken to address the cause of the issue to enable the lifting of the notice as quickly as it safe to do so, in agreement with the HSE.”
UÉ said that water “can be used for personal hygiene, bathing, and flushing of toilets but not for brushing teeth or gargling”.
The utility also urged caution when bathing children to ensure they do not swallow the water.
Homes and businesses can check if they included in the notice by visiting the water quality section of water.ie and entering their Eircode or by calling UÉ’s customer care helpline on 1800 278 278.
