Boil Water Notice for Enniscorthy Public Water Supply lifted with immediate effect

Last Friday, May 27, Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Wexford County Council reminded residents and businesses of Enniscorthy that the Boil Water Notice, which was first issued on May 23 would remain in place. The community of Enniscorthy and its environs are again reminded to continue to boil their water before consumption as the Boil Water Notice is still in place. 

The notice was issued to protect the health of approximately 11,187 consumers supplied by the Enniscorthy Public Water Supply scheme following the ongoing detection of cryptosporidium found at the Vinegar Hill Water Treatment Plant. 

Works fast tracked & long terms plans

To resolve the issues at the plant, Uisce Éireann has fast-tracked funding to carry out essential operational and maintenance works at the water treatment plant. A long-term, multi-million plan for the upgrade of the plant is already in train with a significant upgrade of the Enniscorthy Water Supply Scheme planned. 

That proposed plan includes upgrades to the intake at Clonhaston, raw water main replacement and significant investment at the Vinegar Hill Water Treatment Plant itself. The project is at design and planning phase, with works programmed to progress to tender in 2022 and construction to commence in 2023.  

Speaking about the immediate challenges faced with the supply and the BWN, Uisce Éireann's Ronan Walsh said;

"We have taken the decision to fast-track these essential works this week with a view of lifting the Boil Water Notice as soon as possible if all goes to plan. We began by replacing the filter media on Monday morning. There are three of these filters and they do take some time to remove the media and then put them back in place. Once we have the first filter complete, we will test and monitor the supply. This will inform us if we can continue to work on the other two filters while lifting the Boil Water Notice. 

"There is an also additional challenge now in terms of water availability. Earlier today, a major burst water main resulted in a widespread outage which will leave a significant amount of people without water. This will also delay the commissioning of the first filter and we will assess the impact over the next 24hrs.

"We understand that this is a big weekend for businesses and the general community, with festivals and events planned. I would like to reassure everyone that this is being prioritised by Uisce Éireann and would like to thank them for their patience and cooperation. We are working as hard as we can, with our colleagues and partners in Wexford County Council to get this BWN lifted as soon as possible. I must add however, that as public health is Uisce Éireann's number one priority, we will only lift the notice once it is safe to do so, and in consultation with the HSE"

Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann will receive direct communication on this Boil Water Notice and are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled and cooled. In line with HSE advice on hand washing, Uisce Éireann advises that the water remains suitable for this purpose and boiling the water is not required.

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.

Updates are available on the Supply and Service Updates section of our website, on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.

Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Wexford County Council confirmed today that the Boil Water Notice that was issued on Friday, May 20 for consumers supplied by the Enniscorthy Public Water Supply will remain in place over the coming weekend. Consumers are reminded to continue to boil their water for consumption purposes.

The Boil Water Notice was put in place to protect the health of approximately 11,187 consumers supplied by the Enniscorthy Public Water Supply scheme following the ongoing detection of cryptosporidium found at the Vinegar Hill Water Treatment Plant supply. There was heavy rainfall in the Enniscorthy catchment area over the past week or so and after consultation with the HSE, Uisce Éireann and Wexford County Council issued a precautionary Boil Water Notice with immediate effect to protect the health of consumers. Any consumer with health concerns are advised to contact their GP.

This notice applies to all consumers on the Enniscorthy Public Water supply. 

All consumers affected by this notice must boil their water before drinking.

Uisce Éireann's primary focus is and always will be the protection of public health. Drinking water experts from Uisce Éireann and Wexford County Council are working to implement solutions to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible in consultation with the HSE. In the meantime, all customers on this supply are advised to boil and cool their water before use until further notice.

Uisce Éireann's Ronan Walsh acknowledged the impact of this notice on the community and regrets the inconvenience to impacted customers, adding: 

"Firstly, we would like to acknowledge that the Boil Water Notice is an inconvenience for the community and thank them for their patience and cooperation as we work to resolve the issues as soon as possible. We wanted to inform the residents and the businesses of Enniscorthy well in advance of the weekend that the Boil Water Notice would remain in place. There is a warm spell of weather promised over the weekend too so we would ask sporting organisations and community groups who will gather at events to be mindful that the BWN remains in place and to bring boiled water that is cooled to matches or outdoor activities.

"We understand that this is not ideal, but as I have said previously, public health is Uisce Éireann's number one priority, and we are working closely with Wexford County Council to restore drinking water quality for all impacted customers in Enniscorthy and to lift the Boil Water Notice as quickly as it is safe to do so, and in consultation with the HSE. We continue to work at the water treatment plant and carry out water quality testing. Once we are satisfied that the water supply is safe to drink again, we will lift the notice in collaboration with our colleagues in Wexford County Council and in consultation with the health experts in the HSE."

Plans in place

Uisce Éireann already has a plan in place to deal for a long term solution, progressing with a significant upgrade of the Enniscorthy Water Supply Scheme. The upgrade includes upgrades to the intake at Clonhaston, raw water main replacement and upgrades to Vinegar Hill Water Treatment Plant. The project is at design and planning phase with works programmed to progress to tender in 2022 and construction to commence in 2023.  

Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann will receive direct communication on this Boil Water Notice and are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled and cooled. In line with HSE advice on hand washing, Uisce Éireann advises that the water remains suitable for this purpose and boiling the water is not required.

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.

Updates are available on the Supply and Service Updates section of our website, on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.

Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Wexford County Council would like to remind residents and businesses who are supplied by the Enniscorthy Public Water Supply that a Boil Water Notice remains in place and to continue to boil their water for consumption purposes.

Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE) yesterday, Uisce Éireann and Wexford County Council issued a Boil Water Notice to protect the health of approximately 11,187 consumers supplied by the Enniscorthy Public Water Supply scheme. This followed the detection of cryptosporidium found at the Vinegar Hill Water Treatment Plant supply. As a precaution, Uisce Éireann and Wexford County Council issued a Boil Water Notice with immediate effect to protect the health of consumers. Any customers with health concerns are advised to contact their GP.

This notice applies to all consumers on the Enniscorthy Public Water supply. 

All consumers affected by this notice must boil their water before drinking.

Uisce Éireann's primary focus is and always will be the protection of public health. Drinking water experts from Uisce Éireann and Wexford County Council are working to implement solutions to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible in consultation with the HSE. In the meantime, all customers on this supply are advised to boil and cool their water before use until further notice.

Uisce Éireann's Ronan Walsh acknowledged the impact of this notice on the community and regrets the inconvenience to impacted customers, adding: "The Boil Water Notice remains in place. Public health is Uisce Éireann's number one priority, and we are working closely with Wexford County Council to restore drinking water quality for all impacted customers in Enniscorthy and to lift the Boil Water Notice as quickly as it is safe to do so, and in consultation with the HSE. 

"We had heavy rainfall events in Enniscorthy Catchment area over the past few days and our sampling has highlighted a detection of cryptosporidium at Vinegar Hill Water Treatment Plant. We regret the impact that this Boil Water Notice will have on the local community and would like to assure them that we are prioritising works to restore a safe water supply with a view of lifting the notice as soon as it is safe to do so."

Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann will receive direct communication on this Boil Water Notice and are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled and cooled. In line with HSE advice on hand washing, Uisce Éireann advises that the water remains suitable for this purpose and boiling the water is not required.

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.

Updates are available on the Supply and Service Updates section of our website, on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.

Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Uisce Éireann and Wexford County Council has issued a Boil Water Notice to protect the health of approximately 11,187 consumers supplied by the Enniscorthy Public Water Supply scheme. This follows the detection of cryptosporidium found following testing at the Vinegar Hill Water Treatment Plant. As a precaution, Uisce Éireann and Wexford County Council are issuing this Boil Water Notice with immediate effect to protect the health of consumers.

This notice applies to all consumers on the Enniscorthy Public Water supply. 

All consumers affected by this notice must boil their water before drinking.

Uisce Éireann's primary focus is and always will be the protection of public health. Drinking water experts from Uisce Éireann and Wexford County Council are working to implement solutions to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible in consultation with the HSE. In the meantime, all customers on this supply are advised to boil and cool their water before use until further notice.

Uisce Éireann's Ronan Walsh acknowledged the impact of this notice on the community and regrets the inconvenience to impacted customers, adding: "Public health is Uisce Éireann's number one priority, and we are working closely with Wexford County Council to restore drinking water quality for all impacted customers in Enniscorthy and to lift the Boil Water Notice as quickly as it is safe to do so, and in consultation with the HSE. 

"We have had very heavy rainfall in the Enniscorthy catchment area over the past few days and our sampling has highlighted a detection of cryptosporidium at Vinegar Hill Water Treatment Plant. We regret the impact that this Boil Water Notice will have on the local community and would like to assure them that we are prioritising works to restore a safe water supply with a view of lifting the notice as soon as it is safe to do so."

Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann will receive direct communication on this Boil Water Notice and are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled and cooled. In line with HSE advice on hand washing, Uisce Éireann advises that the water remains suitable for this purpose and boiling the water is not required.

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.

Updates are available on the Supply and Service Updates section of our website, on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.