[3rd Update] Boil Water Notice issued for Tipperary Town Public Water Supply remains in place

Irish Water and Tipperary County Council would like to remind customers supplied by Tipperary Town Public Water Supply (Cordangan Water Treatment Plant) that the Boil Water Notice issued on Friday the 10^th December remains in place until further notice.

The Boil Water Notice is affecting approximately 4,818 people and remains in place as a precautionary measure due to elevated turbidity in the water supply. A map of the area is available to view on the supply and service section of water.ie where customers can input their location to see if they are affected by this notice.

If any customer is unsure if the Boil Water Notice applies to their area, please contact the Irish Water customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.

Experts from Irish Water and Tipperary County Council are working to implement solutions to lift 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.

Colin Cunningham, Irish Water’s Asset Operations Lead, said: “The boil water notice was imposed on this scheme due to elevated turbidity being experienced in our ground water sources (boreholes). We have undertaken surveys of the boreholes to see what condition they are in and to find the source of the turbidity. Scouring works have also taken place on the boreholes to remove as much sediment as possible.

“The turbidity levels are being monitoring closely and water quality sampling is taking place on the distribution network to ensure that any non-compliant water has passed through the system. Once we can demonstrate the turbidity levels are remaining within the allowable levels and we are in receipt of positive water quality test results, we will then consult with the HSE to seek lifting the BWN.

“Irish Water and Tipperary County Council are working to lift the boil water notice as quickly as possible. Public health remains our number one priority and the Boil Water Notice will only be lifted once it is safe to do so.

“I would like to thank everyone in Tipperary Town for their patience and cooperation while we prioritise works to restore a safe water supply to the community.”

For customers who wish to check if their property is on the Boil Water Notice themselves, please go to the following link on the Irish Water website: https://www.water.ie/help/water-quality/results/ enter the property’s Eircode and then click the ‘More Details’ tab. You will then see if your property is on the Boil Water Notice.

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.

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. 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 Tipperary 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.