WATER WOES

Mother and son feel sickness is caused by tap water GP said bacteria could be linked to low reservoirs

A TRALEE mother said she and her eight-year-old son became ‘very ill’ after drinking tap water at their home, which she feels may be linked to bacteria and low-water levels in reservoirs due to the recent drought.

Helga McGrath and her son, Billy, from Marian Park in Tralee visited their GP last week with similar signs of sickness: upset stomach, headaches, dizziness, chills and lethargy, which Helga believes happened after they consumed tap water.

“I was feeling very sick with headaches, and generally feeling very bad in myself. The next thing Billy started feeling the exact same,” Helga said.

“We went to the doctor, and she thinks it could be bacteria given how the reservoirs are so low at the moment. It’s been a very frightening experience, and hospital was even going through my mind for a while given how sick Billy was,” she added.

Helga said her GP informed her that an increase in similar cases had occurred the last time a hose-pipe ban was in place, and that other patients were presenting with similar symptoms of late. However, this can’t be definitively linked to poor water quality unless a proper stool analysis is carried out. Helga said she drinks water ‘all the time’ from the tap, but this is the first time they felt sick after consuming it.

“We drink it all the time as my kids use it for mixing juice, but I’m buying bottled water now. Billy is in a desperate way being sick... he’s just thrown on the couch. He’s really sick in himself, he’s usually such a lively boy,” Helga added.

Irish Water said that water levels in Lough Guitane – where water is extracted to supply Tralee, Killarney, Castleisland and Castlemaine – were lower than normal for the time of year. But even with water levels being low, treatment processes are adapted to ensure there is no impact on treated water quality and no impact on public health. There are currently no public water supply schemes in Kerry with a boil notice in place, however there is a ‘Do Not Consume’ notice in place in Tralee affecting nine properties, which was imposed in March due to elevated iron and low chlorine levels. These properties are in Oakfield Square and North Circular Road area of Tralee. As of Friday last, eight water supply schemes in the county were in danger of drought, with four at risk of drought. Irish Water and Kerry County Council say they are working to maintain water supplies across the county, with a series of night-time restrictions in place in order to minimise the impact on customers and prioritise water supply by day.

The schemes are: Mid Kerry scheme, which supplies Milltown, Killorglin and areas south of Killorglin; the Aughacasla Water Supply Scheme; the Breanlee Water Supply Scheme; An Riasc/Baile an Fheartéarigh Water Supply Scheme; the Maulin Water Supply Scheme; Camp Water Supply Scheme; Balintermon Water Supply Scheme and Leataoibh Water Supple Scheme.

Supply schemes at An Clochán, Fenit and Dún Chaoin in the Dingle area were also at risk of going into drought. Irish Water says weekend rainfall has helped recover raw water levels in the short term, but overall drought conditions remain.

Irish Water ask that anyone with concerns about water quality should contact Customer Care Helpline: 1850 278 278.

Photo by Domnick Walsh Helga McGrath and her boy, Billy McGrath Holland, from Marian Park, Tralee, became very ill, they believe, from drinking tap water. They believe that low water levels are at the root of the issue.