Boil Water Notice reminder for Inishturk

Uisce Éireann continues to work to lift the Boil Water Notice in place for customers on Inishturk. 

Following mechanical and treatment process issues at the island’s water treatment plant, the Boil Water Notice was put in place to protect the health of approximately 40 customers. 

Uisce Éireann is currently monitoring the supply and the notice will be reviewed again in the coming days.

In the meantime, all customers on the Inishturk supply are advised to boil and cool their water before use until further notice.

Uisce Eireann’s Ronan McDonnell thanked the local community for their co-operation and assured them that a team is working to lift the notice as quickly and safely as possible. 

“I want to acknowledge the inconvenience that the Boil Water Notice is causing the local community, but public health is Uisce Éireann’s number one priority and this notice is in place to protect the health of locals and visitors to Inishturk. 

“Drinking water experts from Uisce Éireann are working, in consultation with the HSE, to implement solutions to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible,” he explained.

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.

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, except for 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 formulas that do 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 24/7 and encourage customers to engage with them through their website and social media platforms. They have also launched a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues.

Customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number on the Uisce Éireann website.