Limerick County Council has issued a public drinking water notice affecting hundreds of customers in Newcastle West and its environs.
The boil notice has been issued following the serious flooding experienced by the West Limerick town as a result of recent heavy rainfall. The Council confirmed that 93mm of rainfall, equivalent to a month’s rain, was recorded near Newcastle West over a five hour period late last night and early this morning.
The areas affected by the boil notice include Newcastle West, Coolcappagh and Rathcahill, as well as the Ballyine, Dually, Reens Kilscannell, Old Mill Road, Killoughteen and Killeline Group Water Supply Schemes.
According to Donal Brennan, A/Director of Services Transportation & Water Services, Limerick County Council, ‘Due to the recent extra-ordinary flooding, the production of water at the Newcastle West Water Treatment Plant is severely restricted. Limerick County Council is currently taking all steps to re-commence full production at the plant. The water in the service reservoirs, which was produced before the flooding, is almost exhausted.’
He added, ‘As the Water Services Authority for County Limerick, we wish to advise members of the public that water being supplied from now until further notice should not be used for human consumption except under a number of conditions and for certain purposes.’
Mr. Brennan said, ‘The Council wishes to thank the public for their support to date. A further notice will be issued in due course.’
Boil notice conditions:
Water for drinking purposes, brushing teeth and food preparation should be boiled. Boil the water to ensure a rolling vigorous boil and then allow it to cool. Cover it and store it in a fridge or cold place. Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink. Domestic filters will not guarantee that water is safe to drink. Discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers. Use water that has been prepared for drinking (i.e. that is boiled) for preparing foods that will not be cooked, e.g. for washing salads. It is safe to drink commercial bottled mineral water’, he explained.
Baby feeds should be prepared with water that has been brought to the boil once and cooled. Do not use water that has been reboiled several times. If tap water is unavailable, use bottled water that has been brought to the boil and cooled. Avoid using water that is fizzy, unless boiling has removed all the fizziness. Check the label: water in bottles labelled “natural mineral water” is not required to meet all the standards of tap waters. Do not use natural mineral water with concentrations greater than the following for infant feeding: sodium –200mg/l; Nitrate –50mg/l; Nitrite –0.5mg/l; Sulphate –250mg/l. Water may be used for flushing of toilets and for personal hygiene and bathing. Water may also be used for flushing of internal house plumbing.
Further information and advice is available from the following phone numbers: (061) 496326 (9.30am – 4.30pm Monday - Friday) or (061) 419226 (after hours).
Meanwhile, the Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council has praised the response of the emergency services to this morning’s freak flooding incident in Newcastle West. Cllr John Gallahue complimented the combined response of Limerick County Council, Limerick Civil Defence, the Valentia Coast Guard, Limerick County Fire and Rescue, the ESB, the HSE, An Gardai Siochana and other emergency services.
“Thankfully no lives were lost during the incident, which is one of the most serious to have taken place in County Limerick for many years. The effective and coordinated response of the emergency services to this incident should be noted and complimented’, added the Cathaoirleach.
The boil notice has been issued following the serious flooding experienced by the West Limerick town as a result of recent heavy rainfall. The Council confirmed that 93mm of rainfall, equivalent to a month’s rain, was recorded near Newcastle West over a five hour period late last night and early this morning.
The areas affected by the boil notice include Newcastle West, Coolcappagh and Rathcahill, as well as the Ballyine, Dually, Reens Kilscannell, Old Mill Road, Killoughteen and Killeline Group Water Supply Schemes.
According to Donal Brennan, A/Director of Services Transportation & Water Services, Limerick County Council, ‘Due to the recent extra-ordinary flooding, the production of water at the Newcastle West Water Treatment Plant is severely restricted. Limerick County Council is currently taking all steps to re-commence full production at the plant. The water in the service reservoirs, which was produced before the flooding, is almost exhausted.’
He added, ‘As the Water Services Authority for County Limerick, we wish to advise members of the public that water being supplied from now until further notice should not be used for human consumption except under a number of conditions and for certain purposes.’
Mr. Brennan said, ‘The Council wishes to thank the public for their support to date. A further notice will be issued in due course.’
Boil notice conditions:
Water for drinking purposes, brushing teeth and food preparation should be boiled. Boil the water to ensure a rolling vigorous boil and then allow it to cool. Cover it and store it in a fridge or cold place. Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink. Domestic filters will not guarantee that water is safe to drink. Discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers. Use water that has been prepared for drinking (i.e. that is boiled) for preparing foods that will not be cooked, e.g. for washing salads. It is safe to drink commercial bottled mineral water’, he explained.
Baby feeds should be prepared with water that has been brought to the boil once and cooled. Do not use water that has been reboiled several times. If tap water is unavailable, use bottled water that has been brought to the boil and cooled. Avoid using water that is fizzy, unless boiling has removed all the fizziness. Check the label: water in bottles labelled “natural mineral water” is not required to meet all the standards of tap waters. Do not use natural mineral water with concentrations greater than the following for infant feeding: sodium –200mg/l; Nitrate –50mg/l; Nitrite –0.5mg/l; Sulphate –250mg/l. Water may be used for flushing of toilets and for personal hygiene and bathing. Water may also be used for flushing of internal house plumbing.
Further information and advice is available from the following phone numbers: (061) 496326 (9.30am – 4.30pm Monday - Friday) or (061) 419226 (after hours).
Meanwhile, the Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council has praised the response of the emergency services to this morning’s freak flooding incident in Newcastle West. Cllr John Gallahue complimented the combined response of Limerick County Council, Limerick Civil Defence, the Valentia Coast Guard, Limerick County Fire and Rescue, the ESB, the HSE, An Gardai Siochana and other emergency services.
“Thankfully no lives were lost during the incident, which is one of the most serious to have taken place in County Limerick for many years. The effective and coordinated response of the emergency services to this incident should be noted and complimented’, added the Cathaoirleach.
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