Lough Talt WTP Upgrade Works On Target For End Of 2020 Completion Customers Reminded That Boil Water Notice Remains In Place
Date: 14-10-2020
While works to upgrade the Lough Talt water treatment plant are on track to be completed by the end of 2020 to benefit approximately 13,000 people, the public are reminded that the Boil Water Notice on the scheme remains in place. The current Lough Talt water treatment plant does not provide adequate treatment for protection against cryptosporidium and the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) and needs to be upgraded. Cryptosporidium can lead to severe illness if the public do not boil their water before consumption.
Customers supplied by this scheme may notice a difference in the taste and odour of their water due to the upgrade works that are currently taking place. Improvements are being made to the disinfection process at the plant to ensure the elimination of the risk posed by cryptosporidium and THMs and Irish Water would like to assure customers that their water can be consumed once boiled. More information is available at https://www.water.ie/water-supply/water-quality/mono-chloramination/
As part of the upgrade works at the plant, Sligo County Council water services staff on behalf of Irish Water will be carrying out necessary scouring/flushing of the networks in certain areas across the Lough Talt scheme and as a result customers may experience intermittent low pressure/possible outages over the coming weeks.
Commenting, John McElwaine, Irish Water explained: “Public health is our number one priority and it is imperative that people adhere to the boil water notice which remains in place. Irish Water is committed to safeguarding the treated water supplied from the Lough Talt Regional Water Supply for the future and would like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience they are experiencing due to the current boil water notice.
“We would like to once again thank the public for their continued cooperation and patience while we work to deliver this much-needed upgrade which we are confident will be complete by the end of 2020.”
Approximately 13,000 people are affected by the Boil Water Notice including the towns of Tubbercurry and Ballymote and a large rural hinterland including the villages of Annagh, Aclare, Curry, Lavagh, Ballanacarrow, Carrowneden, Kilmacteige and Coolaney.
The boil water notice also includes consumers supplied by the Ogham Group Water Scheme and Cloontia, Doocastle and Quarryfield in Co Mayo.
The boil water notice is no longer in effect in the Bellaghy area following a connection which allowed this area to be supplied from the Charlestown public water supply. This connection removed 488 customers from the boil water notice in Bellaghy, Sandyhill, Cloonaughill, Cully, the southern 80 per cent part of Bunnacrannagh, Brackloonagh, Brogher, Lissard, and Curryfuel.
Business customers will receive a 40 per cent rebate on the cost of the supply of water to their businesses for the duration of the boil water notice and this will be back dated to February 5, 2018.
The HSE has advised that the tap water is safe to use for personal hygiene such as handwashing, bathing and flushing of toilets and the public are urged to continue frequent handwashing in line with HSE COVID-19 advice.
Irish Water would like to assure customers that we are working at this time with our local authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of drinking water and wastewater services.
Updates are available on the Water Supply Updates section on our website, on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline open 24/7 on 1850 278 278.
Further information on Boil Water Notices can be found on our website https://www.water.ie/water-supply/water-quality/boil-water-notice/
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. Bottled water can also be used to make up infant formula. All bottled water, with the exception of natural mineral water, is regulated to the same standard as drinking water. It is best not to use bottled water labelled as ‘Natural Mineral Water’ as it can have high levels of sodium (salt) and other minerals, although it rarely does. ‘Natural Mineral Water’ can be used if no other water is available, for as short a time as possible, as 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.