Boil Water Notice issued for Whitegate Regional Public Water Supply to protect public health

The notice affects approximately 9,500 people supplied by the Whitegate Regional Public Water Supply in Whitegate, Aghada, Churchtown, Ballycotton, Saleen, Shanagarry, Ballinacura and areas of Cloyne.

If any customer is unsure on whether or not the Boil Water Notice applies to their area, please visit www.water.ie or alternatively, customers can contact the Irish Water customer care helpline on 1800 278 278.

The Boil Water Notice remains in place as a precautionary measure following issues with the treatment process at the Water Treatment Plant due to heavy rainfall. As a result, this may have compromised the disinfection process which makes the water safe to drink.

Irish Water and Cork County Council continue to work to rectify the issues at Whitegate Water Treatment Plant with a view to lifting the notice as quickly and as safely as possible. In the meantime, all customers on this supply are advised to boil their water before use until further notice.

Irish Water’s Pat Britton said: “Public health is Irish Water’s number one priority and we appreciate the impact that this notice is having on the community in East Cork. However, the restriction has been put in place as a precaution in order to protect our consumers.

“As part of our 25 Year strategy under the National Water Resources Plan, we have identified that the preferred approach for the Whitegate supply includes the construction of a new water treatment plant to adequately treat the raw water. Due to the nature of the project, land acquisition, planning approvals and other legal consents may be required. We are currently completing the detailed scoping of the project which should be finished within the next month. Timelines for the completion of the project will be clearer then, however, all projects where some level of land acquisition, planning etc. are involved can be difficult to predict.

“We in Irish Water completely understand the communities frustration and can ensure everyone that we working tirelessly to resolve the issues affecting the plant, both in the short and long term, and to lift the boil water notice as early as it is safe to do so. Sampling, in consultation with the HSE, has begun and we will aim to lift the notice as soon as it is safe to do so. However, until a long term solution has been implemented, there is a possibility that further Boil Water Notices may be imposed on the Whitegate Regional Water Supply in the coming months if the raw water source is adversely affected by weather conditions. We again apologise for the inconvenience this has caused.”

In line with HSE COVID-19 advice and the requirement for frequent hand washing, Irish Water advises that the water remains suitable for this purpose and boiling the water is not required.

Vulnerable customers are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled.

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.

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.

Irish Water is working closely with Cork County Council to lift the notice as soon as it is safe to do so. Updates will be available on our Water Supply Updates section on water.ie, on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278. Further information in relation to the Boil Water Notice is available from https://www.water.ie/water-supply/water-quality/boil-water-notice/

Irish Water 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.