Bellaghy drinking water safe

IRISH Water working in partnership with Sligo and Mayo County Councils can confirm that customers in the Bellaghy area are now being supplied a clean and safe water supply from the Charlestown public water supply.

This means that approximately 785 customers in the Bellaghy area do not need to continue boiling water before consumption and will remain on the Charlestown supply until further notice.

The areas being removed from the boil water notice include Bellaghy, Sandyhill, Cloonaughill,

Cully, the southern 80% part of Bunnacrannagh, Brackloonagh, Brogher, Lissard, and Curryfuel. Irish Water will telephone or write to the customers in the Bunnacrannagh area who are being removed from the Boil Water Notice and customers who reside in this area are advised to keep boiling water before consumption until they receive either a call or letter from Irish Water. The remaining customers on the Lough Talt supply are reminded to continue boiling water until further notice.

The boil water notice was put in place on February 5 following a detection of cryptosporidium during routine sampling at the water treatment plant. An increased continuous weekly sampling plan was implemented and five further detections of cryptosporidium were found both at the plant and in the supply network. Following further consultation with the HSE, it was advised that the boil water notice should remain in place until mid-may to coincide with the high risk cryptosporidium season. Continued sampling occurred over a total period of 16 weeks. Zero detections have been recorded since March 7 representing 10 successive weeks of clear sampling through the high risk cryptosporidium season.

The HSE have informed Irish Water they are investigating reported cases of cryptosporidiosis in the community and advised that the notice continues for another four weeks.