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• Major project to upgrade Macroom water supply also on critical path for delivery 

Uisce Éireann and Cork County Council wish to remind customers supplied by the Macroom Public Water Supply that a Boil Water Notice (BWN) remains in place to protect public health. The BWN which was issued on 13 November, following consultation with the HSE, was put in place as a precautionary measure due to elevated turbidity in the supply.

This notice impacts approximately 4,237 customers in Macroom town, Codrum, Masseytown, Kilnagurteen, Coolehane, Coolcower, Macloneigh, Carrigadrohid, and surrounding areas. Customers can check if their property is included by visiting the Water Quality section of www.water.ie and entering the property’s Eircode or by calling the Uisce Éireann customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278. A map of the area is attached and available to view on the supply and service section of www.water.ie. All customers on this supply are advised to boil water before use until further notice. 

Uisce Éireann is progressing works to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible, in consultation with the HSE.  It is still hoped that this can be achieved by late January. In the longer term, Uisce Éireann is also progressing a major project to upgrade and modernise Macroom Water Treatment Plant to increase its capacity, provide increased resilience, and secure the water supply in Macroom and surrounding areas. The upgrade, which has been prioritised for investment, will also include the provision of new rapid gravity type filters and new coagulation and flocculation equipment, providing increased protection against issues with raw water quality, including Turbidity, and will significantly reduce occurrences of BWNs in the future. These works will be carried out as part of a package included in a new national Water Treatment Contract.  Tenders have just been returned and it is anticipated that a contractor will be appointed in mid-2023. Further updates will be provided as the project progresses 

Uisce Éireann Operations Lead, Niall O’Riordan, regrets the inconvenience to impacted customers, saying, “Public health is Uisce Éireann’s number one priority. We acknowledge the inconvenience caused to homes and businesses over the last number of weeks. We had increased our efforts in an attempt to try and lift the notice before Christmas, however, Boil Water Notices are very complex and unfortunately we are not in a position to lift the notice until early in the new year. We will continue to keep the community as informed as possible and again thank everyone for their patience as we work towards lifting this Boil Water Notice, in consultation with the HSE.”

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) 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 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. If impacted customers are feeling unwell they should contact their GP for medical advice. 

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.

Updates are 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.