Investigation into ‘taste and odour issues’ in the Lough Talt water supply
IRISH WATER has said that it is investigating taste and odour issues in relation to the Lough Talt water supply “to improve water quality for customers” but has said that it is compliant with drinking water regulations.
Since the new treatment plant for the supply opened there have been complaints from time to time by some people about the colour of the water and others have complained about a taste and smell from the water.
The treatment plant at Lough Talt was upgraded last year as the original treatment plant built in 1972 did not provide adequate treatment for protection against cryptosporidium and the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs), which are considered carcinogenic.
The commissioning of the new plant meant the lifting of a boil water notice which had been in place for around two years and affected approximately 13,000 customers in the large area of south Sligo, including the towns of Ballymote and Tubbercurry, served by the supply. In a statement this week Irish Water said that it would like to assure customers supplied by the Lough Talt water supply that they were investigating complaints of taste and odour issues.
“Irish Water engineers are continuing to investigate the root cause of this issue which is sporadic in nature and only affecting some customers on the western end of the scheme.”
But the water utility said that “microbiological and chemical analysis carried out on the water produced at the treatment plant shows that it is compliant with drinking
The new Lough Talt water supply treatment plant, with Lough Talt in the background.
water regulations”.
To identify the cause of the sporadic taste and odour issue, Irish Water and the operators of the plant are investigating why this issue is occurring and they say they will report when the assessment has been completed.
Regional Operations Lead for Irish Water Georgina O’Reilly said: “Irish Water would like to assure our customers that our first priority is the protection of public health.
“Water produced at the Lough Talt Water Treatment Plant is tested daily in conjunction with extensive monitoring in the distribution network and is safe to drink.
“We are aware of these reports and are actively working on a solution,”
she added.
Irish Water said it “continues to work with our local authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of both staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of critical drinking water and wastewater services”.
Further information on drinking water quality can be found on the Drinking Water Quality section of www.water.ie.
Customers with queries or concerns about the quality of their drinking water should contact Irish Water directly via their customer contact centre which operates 24/7 on 1800 278 278 or on Twitter @ IWCare.