Boil Water Notices lifted on two public water supplies in Co Donegal
Boil Water Notices on Charraig Airt – na nDúnaibh (Carrigart Downings) and Chreamhghoirt Charraig Airt – na nDúnaibh (Cranford Carrigart Downings) public water supplies have been lifted with immediate effect.
Uisce Éireann can confirm that, following consultation with the Health Service Executive, customers on these supplies as well as group water schemes served by these supplies, can now resume normal use of their water supply.
The Boil Water Notice was issued on Friday last, 1 May to protect the health of customers due to a mechanical issue at Charraig Airt (Carrigart) Water Treatment Plant.
Uisce Éireann’s drinking water experts worked hard to lift the notice as quickly and safely as possible.
Damien O’Sullivan, Uisce Éireann’s Water Network Operations Manager for Co Donegal, thanked the local community for its patience while the notice was in place.
“We understand the inconvenience of a Boil Water Notice, but public health is our number one priority. We appreciate the support of the local community, and we also thank the local media and political representatives who helped us share information during the period of this short notice.”
The Uisce Éireann Customer Contact Centre, open 24/7 on freephone 1800 278 278, is available to answer queries in relation to the lifting of this notice.
Uisce Éireann is responsible for delivering public drinking water and wastewater services for the people of Ireland. We are committed to enabling communities to thrive by continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support sustainable growth and development, providing safe drinking water, and enhancing the environment.
Previous Updates
Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Uisce Éireann has issued Boil Water Notices to protect the health of customers supplied by two Public Water Supplies in Co. Donegal. They are Carrigart Downings and Cranford Carrigart Downings.
Group Water Schemes supplied by the Carrigart Downings Public Water Supply are also affected by this notice.
The notices are being issued due to a mechanical issue at the Carrigart Water Treatment Plant which serves both supplies.
Customers can check if their property is included by entering the property’s Eircode on our supply and services section or by calling the Uisce Éireann customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278.
Maps of the areas and notices as Gaeilge are attached and available to view on the supply and service section of this website.
Uisce Éireann’s Damien O’Sullivan explained that customers on these supplies must boil their water before consumption, “We acknowledge the inconvenience of a Boil Water Notice on the local communities and assure those impacted that we are working as quickly and efficiently as possible to lift the notices".
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 Health Service Executive (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 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.
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