Community thanked as Newport Boil Water Notice is lifted
Families and businesses in Newport, Ballina, Birdhill, Ballinahinch, Killoscully and surrounding areas can return to using their water supply as normal following the lifting of the Boil Water Notice.
Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Uisce Éireann can confirm that the water is safe to drink, prepare food with and use as normal.
The notice has been lifted following upgrades at Newport Water Treatment Plant this month and a series of satisfactory water quality tests.
Newport’s drinking water comes from the Mulkear River. During periods of heavy rainfall, the quality of water coming into the treatment plant can change quickly, making it more challenging to treat. This was the issue that led to the Boil Water Notice being introduced on 5 September. Heavy rainfall can increase levels of debris, colour and turbidity in the river, all of which must be removed through the treatment process before the water is safe to drink.
Since the notice was introduced, our drinking water teams have been closely monitoring the supply, carrying out water quality testing and progressing upgrades at the treatment plant. Following satisfactory test results and consultation with the HSE, the water is now safe to use as normal.
We know the notice has had a real impact on day-to-day life for families, businesses and the wider community. We would like to thank everyone affected for their patience, understanding and support while our teams carried out the work needed to safely lift the notice.
While the notice has now been lifted, work is continuing to make Newport's water supply more resilient. Our teams are upgrading the filtration system and electronic controls at the water treatment plant to help it respond more effectively when the quality of water coming from the Mulkear River changes and we are also progressing plans to upgrade part of the treatment process to enhance resilience.
Until these upgrades are complete, however, the Newport supply remains vulnerable during periods when conditions in the Mulkear River become particularly challenging. This means there remains a risk that further Boil Water Notices may be needed over the autumn and winter. Protecting public health has been and will always be our priority.
Alongside the upgrades already underway, we are progressing a further major investment in Newport's water supply, with elements of the project being accelerated in response to the increasing challenges at the plant. This longer-term investment will further strengthen the resilience and reliability of the water supply for homes, businesses and the wider community into the future.
Pierce Faherty, Uisce Éireann, said:
“We know how disruptive a Boil Water Notice can be for families, businesses and everyday life, and I want to sincerely thank everyone in the community for the patience and understanding they have shown while this notice has been in place.
“Our drinking water teams have worked hard to resolve the issue and, following satisfactory water quality results, we’re very pleased that people can now return to using their water supply as normal. However the Newport supply remains vulnerable to further boil water notices. The quality of water in the Mulkear River can change significantly following heavy rainfall, which can put additional pressure on the treatment processes at the plant.
“That’s why we’re taking action now. Upgrades to the plant are progressing and are due to be completed by the end of the year. We are also advancing a significant longer-term investment to make Newport’s water supply more resilient.
“Until those immediate upgrades are complete, there remains a risk that further Boil Water Notices may be needed if raw water conditions become particularly challenging. Protecting public health has been and will always be our priority.
“We will continue to keep the Newport community informed as these improvements progress and will share updates if there are any changes that could affect the water supply.”
Boil Water Notices remain in place for those supplied by Ardfinnan, Tipperary Town, Golden to Cashel, Galtee Regional and Kilcommon/Rearcross Public Water Supplies.
We know Boil Water Notices are disruptive and can be concerning for households and businesses. Our drinking water experts continue to undertake works on each supply to restore normal water quality and lift each notice as quickly and safely as possible, in consultation with the HSE.
We will continue to keep communities updated on the progress being made. If there are changes that could affect water supplies, we will share information as quickly as possible through our website and local updates.
Customers can stay informed about their local water service by checking the supply and service section of our website, checking our live feed at X @IWCare, or signing up to receive real-time text updates. Our customer care team is also available 24/7 at 1800 278 278.
Previous Updates
Residents of Newport town and surrounding areas; Birdhill, Ballina, Gortybrigane Ballinahinch, Killoscully. should boil their water for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth before use until further notice.
Our team at Uisce Éireann knows this will be disappointing and disruptive for households in the residential area but we want to reassure customers that we are working as quickly as possible to restore normal water quality. .
Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE) the notice has been put in place to protect public health due to a deterioration in raw water quality which has impacted treatment at the plant. 8,000 customers have been impacted in Newport and surrounding areas.
Customers can check if their property is affected by visiting the Water Quality Section of water.ie and entering their Eircode or by contacting Uisce Éireann’s customer care team, available 24/7, on 1800 278 278.
A map of the affected area is available on the Supply and Service section of water.ie
Drinking water experts from Uisce Éireann are working to lift the notice as quickly and safely as possible, in consultation with the HSE.
Pierce Faherty, Uisce Éireann, said:
"We know how important a safe and reliable water supply is to everyday life and we understand the inconvenience this notice will cause for our customers in the residential area.
"Protecting public health is always our top priority. As soon as our monitoring identified issues affecting water quality, we acted immediately in consultation with the HSE to put this notice in place.
"Our teams are on the ground doing everything possible to resolve the issue and restore normal water quality as quickly as possible. We would like to thank the community for their patience and cooperation while this notice is in place.”
Uisce Éireann's drinking water standards are among the strictest in Europe and include significant safety margins. Where potential risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Éireann's testing and monitoring programme, the HSE is consulted and notices may be issued to safeguard public health.
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 channels @IWCare and @IrishWater, on Facebook and LinkedIn and through our customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.
Uisce Éireann has a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues. Customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number at our Text Alerts page.
Water Service Updates
Sign up for our free text service to be kept informed of water outages and works in your area.