• Plans are in place for short and long-term solutions for a more reliable water supply for Killavullen

Irish Water and Cork County Council wish to remind customers supplied by the Killavullen Public Water Supply that a Boil Water Notice remains in place to protect public health.The Boil Water Notice, issued on 2 May 2022, was put in place due to high levels of turbidity in the borehole supply.

Drinking water experts from Irish Water and Cork County Council are working to rectify the turbidity issues and lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible, in consultation with the HSE. Irish Water is also progressing a permanent solution to address the issues in the long-term that will ensure a safe, reliable drinking water supply to customers. Interim upgrade works are also progressing which will allow us to better manage turbidity events during periods of heavy rainfall until the enduring upgrades are completed. In the meantime, all customers on this supply are advised to boil water before use until further notice.

Irish Water’s Operations Lead, Pat Britton said:

Again I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of Irish Water and Cork County Council to the people of Killavullen who have been living with this Boil Water Notice since May. I understand it is extremely frustrating for the community and all concerned. I would like to reiterate that we are working as quickly as we can to resolve these complex issues on site. Unfortunately, we are still experiencing ongoing turbidity issues in the water source which are preventing us from lifting the notice.

Turbidity events are still occurring, and we have not yet reached stable conditions that would allow us to begin consulting with the HSE with a view to safely lifting the notice. Remedial works are being advanced which includes increasing the storage capacity at the plant as well upgrade works at the raw water source which will allow us to better manage turbidity events during periods of heavy rainfall and minimise the impact of Boil Water Notices in the future until the enduring upgrades are completed. The long-term plan is to rationalise and decommission the raw water source which is vulnerable to turbidity and other factors affecting drinking water quality. Irish Water is progressing plans to construct a pipeline that will connect Killavullen to the Mallow Public Water Supply Scheme, ensuring a safe, reliable drinking water supply to customers now and into the future. We will provide further updates as the project progresses.

Irish Water’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 Irish Water’s enhanced testing and monitoring programme, the Health Service Executive (HSE) are 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 Irish Water receive direct communication on this Boil Water Notice and are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled. Those who have concerns should contact our customer care team on 1800 278 278.

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.

Irish Water is working closely with Cork County Council to lift the notice as soon as it is safe to do so. Updates will be available on our Water Supply Updates section on water.ie, on Twitter @IWCare and via 

our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278. Further information in relation to the Boil Water Notice is available from https://www.water.ie/water-supply/water-quality/boil-water-notice/

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