Alternative water supply will be sourced for Westport - Ring

Alternative water supply will be sourced for Westport – Ring


Michael Duffy

WESTPORT TD and current Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, has stated today that both Irish Water and Mayo County Council are in the process of providing an alternative water supply to parts of Westport in light of the boil water notice issued last night.
Deputy Ring said an alternative supply could be sourced from Lough Mask in the hope that the boil water notice’s effect could be minimised for both residents and businesses in Westport.
“I am aware that Irish Water and the HSE, in co-operation with the local authority, are working hard to resolve this situation,” said Deputy Ring, who added that if anything, the problem highlights the need to improve and invest in our water system.
“As a Government we have prioritised improvements and investment in our water system. This work is already underway. The Lough Mask Regional Water Supply Scheme extension to Westport is due for completion in July and will be a major improvement to our local water services.”

Precautions
MEANWHILE, households are business have been told that that as a precaution, they must put a number of procedures in place while the boil water notice is in place. The following measures are recommended.??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, gargling
-       Making of ice

Discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges.  Make ice from cooled boiled water. Water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets.
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.
Anyone suffering from diarrhoea for more than two days should contact their general practitioner and provide a stool sample for testing. They should continue to drink plenty of boiled or bottled water.