BREAKING | Thousands affected as north Longford hit with boil water notice

Thousands of water consumers in north Longford have been hit with a boil water notice. 

Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Uisce Éireann has issued a Boil Water Notice to protect the health of approximately 2,838 customers supplied by the Granard public water supply. 

This notice is being issued due to operational issues at the Lough Kinale 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. 

Map of the area affected

All consumers affected by this notice must boil their water before drinking.  

Uisce Éireann’s Jim Fitzgerald acknowledged the impact this notice will have on the community, and assured customers that we are working to safely lift this notice.

“We regret any inconvenience caused for impacted customers. The notice, caused by operational issues at the treatment plant, has been put in place to protect the health of customers on the Granard water supply. Public health is our number one priority, and we would like to assure customers that we are working to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible.”    

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

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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; 
• Preparing Infant Formula: Where a Boil Water Notice is in place, you can prepare infant formula from tap water that has been boiled once (rolling boil for 1 minute) and cooled beforehand. 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. If bottled water is used to make up infant formula it should be boiled once (rolling boil for 1 minute) and cooled in the normal way. Ready-to-use formula that does not need added water can also be used. 

Great care should be taken with boiled water to avoid burns and scalds as accidents can easily happen, especially with children.

Uisce Éireann is committed to keeping customers informed across multiple platforms 24/7 and they encourage customers to engage with us through our website, X channels @IWCare and @IrishWater, on Facebook and LinkedIn and through their customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.

Uisce Éireann has launched a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues. Customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number at www.water.ie