Precautionary Boil Water Notice for impacted customers in North Wicklow and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown lifted with immediate affect

Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Wicklow County Council, Dublin City Council and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, would like to remind impacted customers in North Wicklow, and Ballyman and Kill Lane areas of South Dublin that the Boil Water Notice issued on Monday, 6 December 2021 remains in place. The Boil Water Notice was issued following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE) as a precaution to protect the health of 17,497 customers.

Uisce Éireann's drinking water and operational experts are working with our colleagues in the impacted Local Authorities to carry out the required actions to facilitate lifting the Boil Water Notice as quickly as possible. Network flushing is underway to help reduce the amount of time for the plug of inadequately disinfected water to clear the affected area. When this is complete we will follow up with bacteriological testing to verify the water is safe before seeking agreement with the HSE to lift the notice. We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.

In the meantime it is important to note that water is still safe to use for hygiene purposes and Uisce Éireann would like to remind customers to follow the HSE COVID-19 advice and ensure frequent handwashing.

A list of locations included in the Boil Water Notice are provided in the map below.

Customers in the following locations in N. Wicklow are included: Newcastle; Newtownmountkennedy; Kilcoole; Kilpedder; Kilmacanogue Fassaroe/Berryfield Lane; Kilcroney; Delgany;

There are also rural areas between Callowhill and Cronroe which are affected including: Killiskey; Nuns Cross; Coynes Cross; Prospect; Mount John; Timmore Lane; Dunran; Ballyvolan and Kiltimon.

The following areas in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown are also included: Ballyman, Kill Lane and surrounding areas.

Speaking about the imposition of the Boil Water Notice, John O'Donoghue, Regional Operations Lead, Uisce Éireann said, "Uisce Éireann apologises for the impact and inconvenience caused by this Boil Water Notice to homes and businesses. Our number one priority is public health and the safety and well-being of our customers. We would like to reassure our customers that Uisce Éireann's drinking water and operational experts are working with our colleagues in Wicklow County Council, Dublin City Council and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. While we are working to lift the Boil Water Notice, we would like to remind people to check if they are in an affected area and to familiarise themselves with the safety advice. We would like to thank the public, media and elected representatives for sharing the news of the Boil Water Notice as it is essential that we reach as many people as possible."

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. Those who have concerns can contact our customer care team on 1800 278 278.

Updates are available on our Water Supply Updates section on water.ie including a map of the affected area, on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278. Customers are advised to set their location on water.ie to view updates specific to their water supply. Further information on using water during a Boil Water Notice is available on our Boil Water Section. Information from the HSE can be found at www.hpsc.ie.  

Boil Water Notice advice

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

Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Uisce Éireann, Dublin City Council, Wicklow County Council, and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council confirm that a Boil Water Notice has been issued with immediate effect to protect the health of 17,497 customers supplied by the Vartry Water Treatment Plant. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been formally notified.

It is important to note that water is still safe to use for hygiene purposes and Uisce Éireann would like to remind customers to follow the HSE COVID-19 advice and ensure frequent handwashing.

The Boil Water Notice has been put in place to protect public health as high turbidity at a treated water reservoir at Vartry Treatment Plant means a small amount of treated water leaving the Reservoir and going directly into part of the Vartry supply was inadequately disinfected for a short period. Uisce Éireann is currently investigating the issue with a view to lifting the precautionary boil notice as soon as possible.

A list of locations included in the Boil Water Notice are provided below

Customers in the following locations in Wicklow are included: Newcastle; Newtownmountkennedy; Kilcoole; Kilpedder; Kilmacanogue Fassaroe/Berryfield Lane; Kilcroney; Delgany;

There are also rural areas between Callowhill and Cronroe which are affected including: Killiskey; Nuns Cross; Coynes Cross; Prospect; Mount John; Timmore Lane; Dunran; Ballyvolan and Kiltimon.

The following areas in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown are also included: Ballyman, Kill Lane and surrounding areas.

View interactive map of affected areas.

Speaking about the imposition of the Boil Water Notice, John O'Donoghue, Regional Operations Lead, Uisce Éireann said, "Uisce Éireann apologises for the impact and inconvenience caused by this Boil Water Notice to homes and businesses. Our number one priority is public health and the safety and well-being of our customers. We would like to reassure our customers that Uisce Éireann's drinking water and operational experts are working with our colleagues in Wicklow County Council, Dublin City Council and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. While we are working to lift the Boil Water Notice, we would like to remind people to check if they are in an affected area and to familiarise themselves with the safety advice. We would like to thank the public, media and elected representatives for sharing the news of the Boil Water Notice as it is essential that we reach as many people as possible."

Uisce Éireann is contacting customers registered on our vulnerable customers register affected by this Boil Water Notice.

For queries regarding this Boil Water Notice, customers should contact Uisce Éireann directly on our customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278. Updates will be available on the Water Supply Updates section of the Uisce Éireann website and via Twitter @IWCare.

For more information, visit our Boil Water Notice page. Information from the HSE can be found at www.hpsc.ie

Boil Water Notice advice

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