Buncrana homes and businesses hit with New Year boil water notice

A boil water notice has been issued for almost 4,000 customers in Buncrana following reports of discoloured water on New Year’s Day.

Uisce Éireann confirmed that the notice applies to customers supplied from the Slavery Water Treatment Plant and is being put in place to protect public health after consulting with the Health Service Executive.

The issue has been traced to a mechanical fault at the treatment plant over the New Year's public holiday.

The boil water notice affects customers to the north and east of Buncrana.

While the town centre itself and areas to the south of the town are unaffected, large parts of Tullyarvan, along with properties and housing estates on both sides of the Cockhill Road from the Causeway Road out as far as Ballymagan, must boil their water before drinking or cooking with it.

Uisce Éireann has not offered any timeline for when the problem with the contaminated water supply will be resolved. However, a boil water notice in Culdaff last summer ran for more than five weeks during August and September.

The water company has advised householders and businesses to check whether their property is affected by visiting www.water.ie and entering their Eircode, or by contacting the customer care helpline, which operates 24 hours a day, on 1800 278 278.

This map, provided by Uisce Éireann, shows the parts of Buncrana which are under a boil water notice

The public is reminded that water from the tap is only safe to consume once it has been properly boiled.

Until the notice is lifted, water must be boiled for drinking, making drinks, brushing teeth, preparing ice, and for the preparation of foods that are not cooked before eating, such as salads. Ice cubes currently in fridges and freezers should be discarded, and new ice should only be made from cooled, boiled water.

Uisce Éireann’s Damien O’Sullivan said the utility recognises the disruption caused to the community. “We acknowledge the inconvenience of a boil water notice on the local community and assure those impacted that we are working as quickly as possible to resolve the mechanical issue and in turn lift the notice,” he said.

Where risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Éireann’s testing and monitoring programme, the HSE is consulted and boil water notices are issued as a precautionary measure. Vulnerable customers who are registered with Uisce Éireann receive direct notification when such notices are put in place.

Uisce Éireann has outlined a number of important steps households and businesses must take to avoid ingesting contaminated water. Water prepared for drinking should also be used when washing foods that will not be cooked. Tap water can be used for bathing, showering and flushing toilets, but it should not be used for brushing teeth or gargling. Care should be taken when bathing children to ensure they do not swallow any water.

Water should be boiled by bringing it to a vigorous, rolling boil and then allowed to cool. Boiled water should be covered and stored in a refrigerator or a cool place.

Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink, and domestic water filters do not make the water safe during a boil water notice.

Special care is also advised when preparing infant formula. Formula can be made using tap water that has been boiled once for one minute and cooled, or using bottled water.

Finally, customers are urged to take great care when handling boiled water to avoid burns or scalds, particularly in homes with young children.