Boil Water Notice issued for customers supplied by Ballymacarbry Public Water Supply

Information below is relevant until further updates are provided here or on our Supply and Service Updates section

Uisce Éireann has issued a Boil Water Notice for customers supplied by the Ballymacarbry Public Water Supply.

This notice is being issued to protect the health of approximately 672 customers following a deterioration in raw water quality caused by low water levels in the borehole and increased demand, resulting in elevated turbidity levels at Ballymacarbry Upper Water Treatment Plant.

Customers impacted include those in Ballymacarbry, Castlereagh, Knockalisheen, Nire and surrounding areas.

Customers can check if their property is included by visiting the Water Quality section of our website and entering their Eircode or by calling Uisce Éireann's customer care team, available 24/7 on 1800 278 278. A map of the affected area is attached and is also available to view on the Supply and Services section of our website.

Drinking water experts from Uisce Éireann are working to address the turbidity issues affecting the supply and lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible, in consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Uisce Éireann's Maura Phelan acknowledged the impact on the community and said: "Public health is our number one priority and this notice has been put in place to protect customers.

"We recognise the inconvenience this will cause for customers, families, businesses and the wider community, and we apologise for that disruption.”

"Our drinking water experts are working to resolve the issue and restore normal drinking water quality standards as quickly and as safely as possible. We will continue to keep customers and local stakeholders informed as the situation progresses."

Uisce Éireann's drinking water standards, as set out under EU Drinking Water Regulations, are strict and include wide safety margins. Where risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Éireann's enhanced testing and monitoring programme, the HSE is consulted and Boil Water Notices are issued to protect public health. Immediate action is taken to address the cause of the issue and enable the lifting of the notice as quickly as it is safe to do so, in agreement with the HSE. 

Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann receive direct communication on Boil Water Notices. Customers are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled. 

Water must be boiled for:

• Drinking
• Drinks made with water
• Preparation of salads and similar foods which are not cooked prior to eating
• Brushing teeth
• Making 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.
• Water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing toilets, but not for brushing teeth or gargling.
• Boil water by bringing it to a vigorous rolling boil and allow it to cool before use.
• Caution should be taken when bathing children to ensure they do not swallow the water.
• For infant formula preparation, please follow the guidance available on water.ie.

Uisce Éireann is committed to keeping customers informed across multiple platforms 24/7 and encourages customers to engage through water.ie, X channels @IWCare and @IrishWater, Facebook and LinkedIn, and through the customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.

Uisce Éireann also provides a free text alert service, allowing customers to receive real-time updates for local issues by registering their Eircode and mobile number on our Text Alerts page.