Boil Water Notice lifted for Ballymorris Public Water Supply
19 April 2024
Information below is relevant until further updates appear here or on our Supply and Service Updates section.
Uisce Éireann and Wicklow County Council wish to notify customers supplied by Ballymorris Public Water Supply that following the completion of water mains extension works and satisfactory sampling results, the Boil Water Notice is now lifted with immediate effect. This decision follows consultation undertaken with the Health Service Executive (HSE).
All consumers on the Ballymorris Public Water Supply can now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth.
The Boil Water Notice was issued in July 2019 for properties supplied by the Ballymorris Public Water Supply (approximately 17 customers), following the detection of elevated levels of turbidity at the Ballymorris Water Treatment Plant, which compromised the disinfection process.
Uisce Éireann has successfully completed works to extend the Ballyduff (Arklow) Water Supply Scheme to Aughrim via Ballymorris, replacing and decommissioning the local, vulnerable water supply and ensuring safer, more reliable drinking water now and into the future.
Uisce Eireann’s Eoghan Forristal acknowledged the impact of the notice on homes and thanked the community for their support while we worked to lift the notice.
“Uisce Éireann’s primary focus remains the protection of public health and we worked to lift the notice as quickly as it was safe to do so. The construction and commissioning of the new water mains and the extension of the Ballyduff (Arklow) Water Supply Scheme to Aughrim via Ballymorris has eliminated the risk of boil water notices at Ballymorris. We would like to thank customers for their cooperation and patience while we complete these essential works.”
The Uisce Éireann Customer Contact Centre (1800 278 278) is available to answer customer queries in relation to the lifting of this notice. Further information is available on our website.
Uisce Éireann is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.
Previous Updates
Following consultation with the Health Service Executive, Uisce Éireann and Wicklow County Council have issued a Boil Water Notice for properties on the Ballymorris Public Water Supply. The Boil Water Notice has been put in place as a precaution following the detection of elevated levels of turbidity at the Ballymorris Water Treatment Plant and its potential impact on the UV disinfection system in place.
17 customers affected by this supply
Drinking water compliance and operational experts are working with colleagues in Wicklow County Council to resolve this situation as soon as possible. In the meantime, all 17 customers on the supply are advised to boil water before use until further notice. Notices have been hand delivered to properties on this supply this evening.
Water must be boiled for:
- Drinking
- Drinks made with water
- Preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating
- Brushing of teeth
- Making of ice - discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges. Make ice from cooled boiled water.
What actions should be taken:
- Use water prepared for drinking when preparing foods that will not be cooked (e.g. washing salads)
- Water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets but not for brushing teeth or gargling
- Boil water by bringing to a vigorous, rolling boil (e.g. with an automatic kettle) and allow to cool. Cover and store in a refrigerator or cold place. Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink. Domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink
- Caution should be taken when bathing children to ensure that they do not swallow the bathing water
- Prepare infant feeds with water that has been brought to the boil once and cooled. Do not use water that has been re-boiled several times. If bottled water is used for the preparation of infant feeds it should be boiled once and cooled. If you are using bottled water for preparing baby food, be aware that some natural mineral water may have high sodium content. The legal limit for sodium in drinking water is 200mg per litre. Check the label on the bottled water to make sure the sodium or `Na' is not greater than 200mg per litre. If it is, then it is advisable to use a different type of bottled water. If no other water is available, then use this water for as short a time as possible. It is important to keep babies hydrated.
- Great care should be taken with boiled water to avoid burns and scalds as accidents can easily happen, especially with children.
More information
Additional information and advice is available at Boil Water Notices or by calling our 24-hour customer care line at 1800 278 278. Updates are available on our Supply and Service Updates page.