Update on Boil Water Notice issued for customers supplied by Leixlip Water Treatment Plant

Issues with the treatment process at the Water Treatment Plant means that we cannot be certain that all of the water that left the plant and that is now in the network is safe to drink. These issues have now been resolved.

Irish Water and Fingal County Council are investigating how the situation arose and are working to ensure it does not reoccur. The EPA will conduct an audit of the plant tomorrow afternoon (Thursday) and Irish Water will work to support this. 

This Boil Water Notice impacts approximately 600,000 people supplied by the Leixlip Water Treatment Plant. The areas impacted are as follows: parts of Fingal; areas in Dublin City Council; parts of South Dublin County Council; parts of Kildare and Dunboyne in Meath. Full details are in the accompanying map and on https://www.water.ie/

Speaking about the Boil Water Notice, Yvonne Harris, Irish Water’s Head of Customer Operations said: “Irish Water acknowledges and apologises for the impact and inconvenience caused by this Boil Water Notice to homes and businesses. Our number one priority is public health and the safety and well-being of our customers.

“We would like to reassure our customers that Irish Water’s drinking water and operational experts are working with our colleagues in Fingal County Council to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. Fingal Co Co, the HSE and Irish Water will be supporting the EPA in their audit of the plant tomorrow afternoon.

“This morning, during a meeting with the HSE we reviewed the test results and the impact of the Boil Water Notice. At the forefront of all discussions was the need to protect human health and that is why the Boil Water Notice will stay in place for now.

“We would like to thank the public, media and elected representatives for sharing the news of the Boil Water Notice as it is essential that we reach as many people as possible.”

Irish Water has contacted registered vulnerable customers who are affected by this Boil Water Notice.

Should customers have any queries regarding this Boil Water Notice they should contact Irish Water directly on our customer care helpline. 

Updates are available on the Water Supply Updates section on our website, on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline open 24/7 on 1850 278 278.

Further information on Boil Water Notices can be found on our website https://www.water.ie/water-supply/water-quality/boil-water-notice/ 
 

 

Boil Water Notice advice:

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.

Ends

For media queries please contact:  [email protected]

Boil Water notice webpage: https://www.water.ie/water-supply/water-quality/boil-water-notice/

Using water during a Boil Water Notice Video: https://youtu.be/7rvA63Cwaic