Millstreet boil water notice to remain until mid-June

NOTICE PUT IN PLACE AFTER ‘LOW LEVELS’ OF BACTERIA FOUND IN LOCAL WATER SUPPLY

THE boil water notice issued for the Millstreet public water supply last Friday will remain in place up until at least the middle of next month.

In a statement Irish Water said the notice had been put in place “as a precautionary measure” to protect the more than 2.5000 people served by the supply following the detection of “low levels” cryptosporidium in a recent test.

“The area infected include Millstreet, Ballydaly, Laght, Drishane and Keale,” read the statement.

Only last December the Health Service Executive (HSE) said it believed there was no need for a boil water notice to the supply, 90% of which is sourced from the uncovered Tubrid Spring. This despite the fact traces of cryptosporidium had been found in the supply on five separate occasions over the previous two months.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) subsequently added the Millstreet supply to their remedial action list and in their audit report issued several recommendations to Irish Water about the action they felt needed to be taken to address the issue.

These included making sure the Tubrid Spring was fenced off and secured to prevent animal access and that a small hole over the clear water sump be sealed to prevent contamination to treated water.

The EPA also ordered that an ultra violet (UV) transmittance monitor, which Irish Water had admitted had been offline periodically since it was installed last May, be “operational at all times.”

One of the key recommendations was that Irish Water install a suitable barrier against cryptosporidium as soon as possible in order to ensure the Millstreet public water supply was “adequately disinfected”.

Irish Water said they had identified Millstreet as a vulnerable supply due to the lack of adequate treatment and had been carrying out regular testing on the supply to ensure there was no threat to public health.

The company said that in order to address the disinfection issue they had allocated funding of €210,000 for the provision of two UV disinfection units, micro filters and ancillary works at the Millstreet Water Treatment Plant.

“Contractors were appointed last month and are currently working on site to install this system. This will ensure water from this supply has a fully validated cryptosporidium inactivation barrier that will treat water for cryptosporidium and mitigate the risk,” it said.

The company said the work was expected to be completed by midJune.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the boil notice and will continue to work closely with Cork County Council and the HSE to monitor this supply and lift the notice as soon as possible.”

Irish Water said that until the notice is lifted water must be boiled for: • Drinking. • Drinks made with water. • Preparation of salads etc. • Brushing of teeth. • Making of ice. Further information and additional advice is available through the 24-hour customer care line on 1850 278 278.