Inishturk community thanked as Boil Water Notice is lifted

Uisce Éireann has extended its thanks to the community of Inishturk for their patience and understanding since a Boil Water Notice was issued for their public water supply. 

Works are continuing to lift the Boil Water Notice, which was issued on Friday, 14 August to protect the health of customers on Inishturk. 

Uisce Éireann acknowledges the inconvenience and frustration of a Boil Water Notice for homes and businesses on Inishturk and wishes to assure impacted customers that every effort is being made to lift the notice. 

Remedial works have been successfully carried out at the plant, including the installation of new sand in the filters to strengthen the water treatment process. Uisce Éireann has commenced a programme of sampling on the network with a view toward lifting the Boil Water Notice in the coming weeks. 

Protecting public health remains Uisce Éireann’s foremost priority, and the notice remains in place to protect customers on Inishturk until the compliance of the water leaving the treatment plant can be assured. 

Colette Scahill, Uisce Éireann Water Networks Operations Manager for Mayo, has sought to assure customers on Inishturk that getting the Boil Water Notice lifted is a priority. 

“We understand how disruptive a Boil Water Notice can be for everyday tasks, and how challenging this period has been for our customers on Inishturk,” said Colette. “Our remedial works are now complete, and we have started the process of sampling the water on the network with the intention of lifting the notice, in consultation with the HSE. 

“We wish to thank impacted customers for their understanding and patience while we work to lift the notice. We also wish to thank local representatives and the media for their support in sharing important public health information during the period of this notice,” Colette continued. 

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, with the exception of 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 formula that does 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 across multiple platforms 24/7 and we encourage customers to engage with us through our website, X channel @IWCare and through our customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.

Uisce Éireann is continuing to work towards lifting the Boil Water Notice which is currently in place on the Inishturk Public Water Supply.

The Boil Water Notice was issued on Friday, 14 August to protect the health of approximately 41 customers due to mechanical issues at the island’s water treatment plant.

Uisce Éireann’s operational and drinking water compliance teams are working to rectify the issues and lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible, in consultation with the HSE.

Remedial works are due to take place at the plant next week. This will involve the installation of new filter media, which is key to the water treatment process. Once these works are completed, it will be approximately 10-14 days before Uisce Éireann can begin a programme of sampling with a view towards lifting the Boil Water Notice, in consultation with the HSE.

Uisce Éireann’s Colette Scahill thanked residents and visitors to Inishturk for their understanding and patience while the Boil Water Notice is in place.

“We fully appreciate the inconvenience can be caused by a Boil Water Notice but we want to assure impacted customers that the notice is in place to protect public health, which will always be Uisce Éireann’s primary concern,” said Colette.

“The works due to begin at the treatment plant next week will be a significant step forward in bringing the plant back into compliance and moving towards the lifting of the notice.”

Uisce Éireann’s drinking water standards, as per EU Drinking Water regulations, are strict and include wide safety margins. Where risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Éireann’s enhanced testing and monitoring programme, the HSE is consulted, and Boil Water Notices are issued to protect public health. In all instances, immediate action is taken to address the cause of the issue to enable the lifting of the notice as quickly as it is safe to do so, in agreement with the HSE. 

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, with the exception of 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 formula that does 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 across multiple platforms 24/7 and we encourage customers to engage with us through our website, X channel @IWCare  and through our customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.

Uisce Éireann has issued a Boil Water Notice for customers supplied by the Inishturk Public Water Supply in Co. Mayo.

This notice is being issued to protect the health of approximately 41 customers due to mechanical issues at the island’s water treatment plant.

The Boil Water Notices applies for the entire island of Inishturk.

Customers can check if their property is included by visiting the Water Quality section and entering the property’s Eircode or by calling the Uisce Éireann’s customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278. A map of the area is below.

Drinking water experts from Uisce Éireann are working to rectify the mechanical issues at the treatment plant and lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible, in consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE).  

Colette Scahill of Uisce Éireann regrets the inconvenience to impacted customers. “Public health is Uisce Éireann's number one priority, and we would like to assure customers that the notice has been put in place to protect public health.

“We acknowledge the inconvenience caused to homes and businesses and would like to assure customers that we are working to resolve the issue and lift the notice as quickly and as safely possible.”

Uisce Éireann’s drinking water standards, as per EU Drinking Water regulations, are strict and include wide safety margins. Where risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Éireann’s enhanced testing and monitoring programme, the HSE is consulted, and Boil Water Notices are issued to protect public health. In all instances, immediate action is taken to address the cause of the issue to enable the lifting of the notice as quickly as it safe to do so, in agreement with the HSE.

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, with the exception of 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 formula that does 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 across multiple platforms 24/7 and we encourage customers to engage with us through our website, X channel @IWCare and through our customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.