Boil Water Notice issued to protect the health of customers on the Newport Public Water Supply

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

Customers in Newport must boil their water before using it for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth until further notice. This is an essential measure introduced to protect public health after increased turbidity caused by Storm Boelo affected the treatment process at the local water treatment plant. 

Our team at Uisce Éireann understands that this will be disruptive and concerning for households and businesses across the area but we want to reassure customers that we are working to restore normal water quality as quickly as possible. 

We consulted with the Health Service Executive (HSE) before putting this notice in place. The Boil Water Notice applies to 8,000 customers including all those in Newport Town, Birdhill, Ballina, Gortybrigane,  Ballinahinch, Killoscully and the surrounding areas. 

Newport’s drinking water comes from the Mulkear River. During periods of heavy rainfall, the quality of water coming into the treatment plant can change quickly, making it more challenging to treat. This was the issue that led to the Boil Water Notice being introduced.

Heavy rainfall can increase levels of debris, colour and turbidity in the river, all of which must be removed through the treatment process before the water is safe to drink. 

Our teams are upgrading the filtration system and electronic controls at the water treatment plant to help it respond more effectively when the quality of water coming from the Mulkear River changes and we are also progressing plans to upgrade part of the treatment process to enhance resilience.

Customers can check if their property is affected by visiting the Water Quality Section of water.ie and entering their Eircode or by contacting Uisce Éireann’s customer care team, available 24/7, on 1800 278 278.  
A map of the affected area is available on the Supply and Service section of water.ie 

Our drinking water experts are working to restore normal water quality and lift the notice as quickly and safely as possible, in consultation with the HSE.  
Anthony Phelan Uisce Éireann, said:

“We know how important a safe and reliable water supply is to everyday life and we understand the inconvenience this notice will cause for customers, families, businesses and community groups across the area. 
"Protecting public health is always our top priority. As soon as our monitoring identified issues affecting water quality, we acted immediately in consultation with the HSE to put this notice in place as a safety measure. 
"Our teams are doing everything possible to resolve the issue and restore normal water quality as quickly as possible. We would like to thank the community for their patience and cooperation while this essential work is carried out." 

Uisce Éireann's drinking water standards are among the strictest in Europe and include significant safety margins. Where potential risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Éireann's testing and monitoring programme, the HSE is consulted and precautionary notices may be issued to safeguard public health. 

Customers are reminded that water is safe to consume once it has been boiled and cooled. 

Water must be boiled for: 
•    Drinking 
•    Preparing drinks made with water 
•    Preparing salads and foods that are not cooked before eating 
•    Brushing teeth 
•    Making ice 
What customers should do: 
•    Boil water by bringing it to a vigorous rolling boil and allow it to cool before use. 
•    Use boiled water when washing food that will not be cooked, such as salads. 
•    Water can still be used for washing, bathing and flushing toilets, but should not be used for brushing teeth or gargling. 
•    Domestic water filters will not make water safe to drink. 
•    Extra care should be taken when bathing children to ensure they do not swallow water. 
•    Great care should be taken when handling boiled water to avoid burns and scalds. 

Vulnerable customers who are registered with Uisce Éireann receive direct communication when Boil Water Notices are issued. 
 

Customers can stay informed about their local water service by checking the supply and service section of our website, checking our live feed at X @IWCare, or signing up to receive real-time text updates. Our customer care team is also available 24/7 at 1800 278 278.