Boil Water Notice lifted for Borrisokane customers

Uisce Éireann working in partnership with Tipperary County Council would like to inform customers supplied by the Borrisokane public water supply that the Boil Water Notice issued on the supply on April 1 2021 has been lifted with immediate effect.

The Boil Water Notice was put in place due to the detection of cryptosporidium in the Borrisokane Supply.

Since then, experts from Uisce Éireann and Tipperary County Council have been working hard to implement a solution to enable to lifting of the notice by installing a new Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system. There works are now complete and, following consultation with the HSE, the Boil Water Notice has been lifted. All 1,750 customers of this supply can now resume normal use of this water for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth.

Uisce Éireann's Asset Operations Lead Duane O'Brien has thanked the local community for their patience and cooperation while the Boil Water Notice was in place: "Uisce Éireann and Tipperary County Council would like to thank the customers who were affected by this notice for their patience and support while essential works were carried out at the water treatment plant.

"We understand the impact and inconvenience caused by the imposition of a Boil Water Notice to homes and businesses. Our priority is the provision of safe, clean drinking water. Safeguarding that water supply for customers in Borrisokane is a vital focus and this upgrade of the treatment process will ensure a safer, more secure water supply into the future."

Should customers have any queries regarding the lifting of this notice they can check out the Supply and Service Updates section of our website or contact us directly on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.

Uisce Éireann continues to work at this time with our Local Authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of both staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of critical drinking water and wastewater services. Uisce Éireann would like to remind people to follow the HSE COVID-19 advice and ensure frequent handwashing.

Update 25 May 2021

Uisce Éireann and Tipperary County Council would like to remind customers that a Boil Water Notice remains in place for the area supplied by the Borrisokane Public Water Supply.

The Boil Water Notice was put in place due to the detection of cryptosporidium in the Borrisokane supply.

Since then, experts from Uisce Éireann and Tipperary County Council have been working to implement a solution to enable to lifting of the notice. Works to install a new disinfection system are close to completion and will be moving to the commissioning stage shortly. Further updates will follow as this progresses.  

In the meantime, all 1,750 customers of this supply are advised to continue to boil water before use until further notice.

Duane O'Brien, Uisce Éireann's Operations Lead for Tipperary said, "We understand the disruption a Boil Water Notice can cause. Together with our colleagues in Tipperary County Council we have prioritised the installation of a new ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system at the treatment plant. Following the completion of this work, further consultation will take place with the HSE with a view to lifting the notice as quickly as it is safe to do so."

Vulnerable customers who have concerns can contact our customer care team on 1800 278 278. Updates will be available on the Supply and Service Updates section of our website and on Twitter @IWCare. Further information in relation to the boil water notice is available on the Boil Water Notice section of our website.

Uisce Éireann continues to work at this time with our Local Authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of both staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of critical drinking water and wastewater services. Uisce Éireann would like to remind people to follow the HSE COVID-19 advice and ensure frequent handwashing.

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