Boil Water Notice issued across large swathe of Mayo

Cryptosporidium contamination detected in county’s main water supply 

Neill O’Neill

A Boil Water Notice has been put in place, effective since this evening, Friday, September 2, across a vast swathe of County Mayo, after sampling found the presence of Cryptosporidium in the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply Scheme. It is estimated that 46,500 people are being affected by this notice, in locations across Castlebar, Westport, Ballinrobe, Claremorris and in several other areas, after a routine water sample detected Cryptosporidium in the treated water coming from the Lough Mask Water Treatment Plant. 
This is just the second positive sample in the Lough Mask water supply in five years. In line with normal practice, and depending on results from the now daily testing that will occur, this Boil Water Notice could remain in place for approximately two weeks. Irish Water and Mayo County Council issued the alert on the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply Scheme to protect consumers, following advice from the Health Service Executive. 

Large area
This notice applies to consumers on the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply Scheme, including: Castlebar, Westport (see below), Claremorris, Ballinrobe, Ballyhaunis, Knock, Ballindine, Balla, Kilmaine, Cong and their associated hinterlands. Also included are those areas of Westport served from the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply scheme which include the following areas: Sheeaune, Knockranny, Buckwaria and Clogher GWS, Westport Town, Westport Quay, Belclare, West Road, Newport Road, Carrowholly, Ballinlough GWS, Cloghans GWS, Rosmoney GWS, Ballinrobe Road. 
The following group water schemes are also affected: Abbeyquarter, Annagh GWS Ballyhaunis, Ballinvilla No.1 GWS, Ballinvilla No.2 GWS, Ballyfarna/Magheraboy GWS, Ballynanerron GWS, Bekan GWS, Belcarra GWS, Bunadober GWS, Carramore GWS, Carras District GWS, Cartron GWS, Cave GWS, Clogher (Turlough) GWS, Cloonboy GWS, Clooncah GWS, Coogue GWS, Crinlin/Ross GWS, Cuillatinny/Liscat GWS, Curraghmore/Cloonkeen GWS, Derry/Knock GWS, Derrymore/Srah GWS, Devlis/Knockbrack GWS, Druimminroe West GWS, Friarsquarter GWS, Garryduff GWS, Gurteen (Westport) GWS, Gurteen / Carrowkeel GWS, Horsepark GWS, Kilgarriff / Larganboy GWS, Kilkeeran GWS, Killawalla GWS, Knockatubber GWS, Lecarrow GWS, Lehinch No. 2 GWS, Lisaniska GWS, Lissatava GWS, Lough Mask Road GWS, Meelickmore GWS, Rahard GWS, Rockfield / Turlough 1 GWS, Rockfield No. 2 GWS, Skehavard (1) GWS, Skehavard (2) GWS, Srah GWS, Sraheen (Aughagower) GWS, Treenlaur GWS (Tourmakeady), Turlough / High Meadow GWS. 

Monitoring
Irish Water says it is liaising with the HSE and the Environment Protection Agency and an incident management team has been set up to give full attention to this matter.
The Boil Water Notice means that water must be boiled for: 

° Drinking

° Drinks made with water

° Preparation of salads and similar foods not cooked prior to eating

° Brushing of teeth

° Making of ice


Consumers should also:

° Discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges; make ice from cooled boiled 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. 

SeΡn Corrigan, Regional Information Specialist from Irish Water, said public health is their number one priority. “While we investigate the source of this contamination, it is imperative that people adhere to the boil water notice. We will be contacting priority customers supplied by this scheme who have self-declared to Irish Water directly by telephone. Irish Water is working closely with Mayo County Council to investigate all aspects of the scheme. A continuous sampling and testing programme has been put in place.”

Taoiseach’s reaction
Reacting, Taoiseach Enda Kenny called the contamination and its effects ‘very regrettable’. 
“I have been updated by Irish Water this matter is receiving their urgent attention,” he said. “Both Irish Water and Mayo County Council are working swiftly and effectively to resolve this boil notice. It is a real priority that potable drinking water is restored as soon as possible, but the public should take note of the boil notice and the necessity to comply with the boiling requirement. Irish Water confirmed they will be contacting priority customers who are supplied by Lough Mask, provided they have self declared their requirements to Irish Water on health, mobility, and other grounds.” 
He continued: "Undoubtedly, this will result in much inconvenience for a large part of the population around Mayo. The Government this week alone announced €5.7million for Rural Water Schemes in Mayo and construction began on the new Belmullet Sewerage Scheme in July. €18 million has been invested to date by Irish Water in Lough Mask with another €21.4 million committed to water projects in the county. This ongoing investment is designed to help ensure that water infrastructure is upgraded and I hope this matter will be resolved with the utmost urgency,” he concluded.
A map of the scheme is available on Irish Water and Mayo County Council’s websites, and Irish Water and Mayo County Council have stated that they wish to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Further information and additional advice for customers is available on www.water.ie or by calling 1890 278 278.

Keep an eye on The Mayo News, The Mayo News on Facebook and Twitter and mayonews.ie for further updates.