Boil water notice affecting 1,300 people in Culdaff area after issue at water treatment plant

A boil water notice has been issued in the Culdaff area due to an issue with the treatment process at the local water treatment plant. 

Uisce Éireann said the boil water notice, which is affecting around 1,300 people, was issued following consultation with the Health Service Executive due to high turbidity in the raw water, which has affected the treatment process at the Culdaff water treatment plant. 

Customers can check if their property is included by visiting www.water.ie and entering the property’s Eircode or by calling the Uisce Éireann customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278. 

The Three Glens Group Water Scheme is also affected by the notice. 

Uisce Éireann’s Damien O’Sullivan explained that customers are experiencing a disruption to their supply but when water returns, they must boil it before consumption. 

“We acknowledge the inconvenience of a boil water notice on the local community and assure those impacted that we are working as quickly and efficiently as possible to lift the notice”.

Last year a boil water notice on the Culdaff public water supply ran for more than five weeks from August to September.

Uisce Éireann says  its drinking water standards, as per EU Drinking Water regulations, are strict and include wide safety margins.

A map of the area affected by the boil water notice

Where risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Éireann’s enhanced testing and monitoring programme, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is consulted, and Boil water notices are issued to protect public health. In all instances immediate action is taken to address the cause of the issue to enable the lifting of the notice as quickly as it safe to do so, in agreement with the HSE.

Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann receive direct communication on Boil Water Notices. Customers are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled.

Water must be boiled before it is used for drinking, for making drinks, for preparing salads and other foods that will not be cooked before eating, for brushing teeth, and for making ice.

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Any ice cubes in fridges and freezers, as well as filtered water stored in fridges, should be discarded. Ice should be made only from cooled, boiled water.

When preparing foods that will not be cooked, such as washing salads, use water that has been boiled and prepared for drinking.

Tap water may be used for personal hygiene, bathing, and flushing toilets, but it must not be used for brushing teeth or gargling.

Water should be boiled by bringing it to a vigorous, rolling boil, for example in an automatic kettle, and then allowed to cool. It should be covered and stored in a refrigerator or another cold place.

Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink, and domestic water filters will not make the water safe to drink. Care should be taken when bathing children to ensure that they do not swallow the bath water.