Do Not Consume Notice for Dowra Public Water Supply lifted with immediate effect
24 August 2023
Information below is relevant until further updates are provided here or on our Supply and Service Updates section.
Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Cavan County Council, wishes to notify customers on the Dowra Public Water Supply that the Do Not Consume Notice is lifted with immediate effect. This decision follows consultation undertaken with the Health Service Executive (HSE) following the completion of remedial measures and the receipt of satisfactory monitoring results.
Speaking about the lifting of the notice, Peter Gallagher, Uisce Éireann said: “Uisce Éireann acknowledges and understands the impact this notice had on the community and we sincerely regret the inconvenience. Our drinking water compliance and operational experts including Cavan County Council worked hard to resolve this issue as quickly and as safely as possible. We are grateful to the media, elected representatives and members of the public who shared the information since commencement of this Do Not Consume Notice. We would also like to thank the HSE for their input and support throughout the process.”
The notice, arising due to elevated levels of aluminium on the network, was put in place to protect the health of a population of approximately 58 customers supplied by Dowra Public Water Supply.
All consumers supplied by Dowra Public Water Supply can now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth.
Uisce Éireann and the Local Authority/Health Service Executive Water Liaison Group will continue to meet and will review ongoing process control, monitoring and testing of the drinking water supply.
If customers have any queries regarding this Do Not Consume Notice and the lifting of it, they should contact Uisce Éireann directly on our customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278.
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 (HSE), Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Cavan County Council, has issued a Do Not Consume Notice for all consumers on the Dowra Public Water Supply Scheme due to elevated levels of aluminium detected on the network. The notice applies to approximately 58 customers supplied by the Dowra Public Water Supply Scheme.
It is especially important that mains drinking water is not given to bottle fed infants.
Please note this is not a Boil Water Notice. Boiling the water will not reduce aluminium levels and is therefore not a suitable measure to make the water safe to consume. This notice does not apply to other areas and water schemes in Cavan.
Uisce Éireann drinking water compliance and operational experts are working with colleagues in Cavan County Council to resolve this situation as soon as possible.
A water tanker is being made available in Dowra Mart to support local customers impacted by the Do Not Consume notice. Customers are reminded to use their own containers when taking water from the tanker and to boil water before consumption as a precautionary measure as per HSE advice.
Speaking about the imposition of the notice, Peter Gallagher, Operations Lead with Uisce Éireann said: “Uisce Éireann is aware of the impact a Do Not Consume Notice has on the community and would like to reassure impacted customers that we are working to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible. We would ask customers who have concerns to contact our customer care team on 1800 278 278.”
This water should not be used for:
- Drinking
- Drinks made with water
- Food preparation, washing or cooking of food,
- Brushing of teeth
- Making of ice
- Children under 12 months old should not drink this water
- In particular, children under 12 months old should not drink this water. This water should not be used for making up infant formula for bottled fed infants. An alternative source of water should be used. Bottled water can also be used to make up infant formula. All bottled water, with the exception of natural mineral water, is regulated to the same standard as drinking water. It is best not to use bottled water labelled as ‘Natural Mineral Water’ as it can have high levels of sodium (salt) and other minerals, although it rarely does. ‘Natural Mineral Water’ can be used if no other water is available, for as short a time as possible, as it is important to keep babies hydrated.
- If bottled water is used to make up infant formula it should be boiled once (rolling boil for 1 minute), and cooled in the normal way
- Ready-to-use formula that does not need added water can also be used.
- Domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink
- Caution should be taken when bathing infants to ensure that they do not swallow the bathing water
- Discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges
What can you use water for?
The water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing, flushing toilets, laundry and washing of utensils
Uisce Éireann and Cavan County Council will continue to liaise with the Health Service Executive with a view to lifting this drinking water restriction as soon as practicable.
Updates are available on the Water Supply Updates section on www.water.ie, on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.