Boil Water Notice lifted for Kiltimagh Water Supply
Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Uisce Éireann and Mayo County Council can confirm that the Boil Water Notice impacting customers supplied by the Kiltimagh Water Supply has been lifted with immediate effect and the water is safe to drink.
All customers, including group water schemes, served by Kiltimagh Water Supply can now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth.
The Boil Water Notice was issued as a precautionary measure on Wednesday, 2 February to protect the health of a population of approximately 1,800 customers following issues with the disinfection process at Kiltimagh Water Treatment Plant.
Uisce Éireann's drinking water compliance and operational experts worked to resolve the situation as quickly and as safely as possible and following a number of satisfactory water samples and an audit of the plant, the Boil Water notice was lifted.
Ger Greally, Uisce Éireann's Asset Operations Lead, acknowledged the impact of the notice on the community and thanked customers for their patience.
"Uisce Éireann acknowledges and understands the impact of this Boil Water Notice on customers in Kiltimagh and we regret any inconvenience caused. We are grateful to the media, elected representatives and members of the public who shared the information. Uisce Éireann's priority is the provision of safe, clean drinking water and safeguarding that water supply for the future is a vital focus.
"Where risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Éireann's enhanced testing and monitoring programme, Boil Water Notices are issued in order to safeguard public health."
If customers have any queries regarding the lifting of the Boil Water Notice they can contact Uisce Éireann's Customer Contact Centre, open 24/7, on freephone 1800 278 278. Further information is available on our website.
Uisce Éireann is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.
Previous Updates
Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Uisce Éireann and Mayo County Council have issued a Boil Water Notice for the Kiltimagh Water Supply with immediate effect. The notice, arising out of issues with the disinfection process at Kiltimagh Water Treatment Plant, has been put in place to protect the health of a population of approximately 1,800 customers.
Uisce Éireann's drinking water compliance and operational experts are working with colleagues in Mayo County Council to resolve the situation with a view to having the notice lifted as quickly as possible. In the meantime, all customers of this supply are advised to boil water before use until further notice.
Ger Greally, Uisce Éireann's Asset Operations Lead, has acknowledged the impact this notice will have on the community and apologised for the inconvenience to customers.
"We will continue to work closely with Mayo County Council and the HSE to monitor the supply and lift the notice as quickly as it is safe to do so and safeguard the supply for the future.
"Public health is Uisce Éireann's number one priority and this Boil Water Notice has been put in place as a precaution to protect customers following issues with the disinfection process at the water treatment plant which led to inadequate chlorination of the public water supply.
"Where risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Éireann's enhanced testing and monitoring programme, Boil Water Notices are issued in order to safeguard public health. In all instances immediate action is taken to address the cause of the issue in order to lift the notice as quickly as possible, in agreement with the HSE."
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.
Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann receive direct communication on this Boil Water Notice and are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled. Those who have concerns should contact our customer care team on 1800 278 278.
Customers can check if they are impacted by this Boil Water Notice by visiting the Water Quality section of our website and entering their property's Eircode in the search bar.
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 will be available on our Supply and Service Updates section of our website 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 is available on the Boil Water Notice section of our website.
