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Do Not Consume notice for all customers supplied by Greenmount Public Water Supply lifted with immediate effect

10 December 2021

Following consultation with the HSE, we are advising customers that the drinking water can now be consumed as normal

A Do Not Consume restriction that was in place for customers supplied by the Greenmount Public Water Supply since Wednesday 1 December has now been lifted with immediate effect.

Following consultation with the HSE, Uisce Éireann and Louth County Council are advising customers that the drinking water can now be consumed as normal.

It was necessary to issue the Do Not Consume notice due to elevated ammonia levels in the source water. Uisce Éireann operation and compliance experts worked with colleagues from Louth County Council to carry out a programme of remedial works at the plant, followed by a programme of sampling and monitoring of the water supply network. Maintenance and checks have been completed  and the results from our monitoring programme have confirmed that the water is now safe to drink and to use for the preparation of foods, washing of utensils, use in washing machines and dishwashers, and for personal hygiene.

Uisce Éireann’s Asset Operations Lead Michael Cunniffe, commented: “Uisce Éireann and Louth County Council would like to thank the residents and businesses who were affected by this notice for their patience and cooperation while it was in place to protect public health.

“We would also like to acknowledge and thank our colleagues in Louth County Council who worked tirelessly since this notice was issued to ensure customers received a continuous water supply at their taps for essential handwashing and hygiene and at the tankers which provided alternative drinking water supplies. We would also like to also thank them for supporting us in the delivery of bottled water to vulnerable customers.” 

Business customers will receive a 40 per cent rebate on the cost of the supply of water to their businesses for the duration of the do not consume notice and this will be automatically back dated to Wednesday 1 December.

Should customers have any queries regarding the lifting of this notice they can check our Water Supply Updates section, or contact us directly on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline which is 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

Uisce Éireann and Louth County Council would like to remind customers supplied by Greenmount Public Water Scheme that the Do Not Consume Notice issued on Wednesday 1 December remains in place until further notice.

The Do Not Consume Notice was placed as a precaution to protect the health of 3,995 customers as elevated ammonia levels in the source water resulted in the plant being unable to treat water to the required standard. Areas affected include Castlebellingham, Dunleer, Annagassan and surrounding areas. A map of the impacted area is attached and is also available on the Water Supply Updates section of water.ie.

The water is not safe for consumption or the preparation of foods, but is safe for hygiene and use in washing machines and dishwashers. It is especially important that mains drinking water is not given to bottle fed infants. Uisce Éireann would like to remind the public to continue to follow public health advice on handwashing and hygiene.

Uisce Éireann's primary focus is the protection of public health. We would like to reassure our customers that Uisce Éireann’s drinking water compliance and operational experts are working in partnership with Louth County Council to lift the Do Not Consume Notice as quickly and as safely as possible, in consultation and agreement with the HSE.

Please note this is not a Boil Water Notice. Boiling and cooling the water is not a suitable measure to make this water safe to consume. This notice does not apply to other areas or water schemes in Co Louth. Please view the attached map of the areas impacted.

Bottled water continues to be provided for vulnerable customers who are registered on this supply in adherence with current HSE advice. We would ask vulnerable customers or those who have concerns about leaving their homes during the current pandemic to contact our customer care team, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278.

The status of Storm Barra in Louth has changed to a yellow alert. Alternative water supplies in the form of intermediate bulk containers (IBC) can now resume at the following locations from 5:00pm today until 8:00pm this evening and from 7:00am until 8:00pm on all subsequent days for which they are required. The IBCs may be offsite for short periods if refilling is required during the day;

  • The Church Car Park, Kilsaran     
  • Public Car Park, Dunleer (Opposite Centra Shop)

Customers are reminded to use their own containers when taking water from the tankers and to boil and cool the water before consumption as a precautionary measure. Customers should follow HSE and government COVID-19 advice in relation to social distancing and mask wearing when collecting water from tankers.

For updates on Storm Barra please visit www.gov.ie/stormbarra/.

Michael Cunniffe, Regional Operations Lead with Uisce Éireann, said: “Uisce Éireann acknowledges the impact of this notice on the local community and we would like to reassure impacted customers that our drinking water compliance and operational experts are working to resolve this issue as quickly and as safely as possible. We would ask customers who have concerns to contact our customer care team on 1800 278 278. The water is safe to use for handwashing and personal hygiene and all customers on this water supply scheme should continue to follow public health advice on handwashing at this time.”

Public Health Advice:

This water should NOT be used for:

  • Drinking
  • Drinks made with water
  • Food preparation, washing or cooking of food
  • Brushing teeth
  • Making ice
  • 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 mains water for:
  • The water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing, flushing toilets, laundry and washing of utensils.

Water for animals          

  • Pets

It is a good idea to avoid giving tap water to your pet while a DNC notice is in place. If in doubt you should consult your local vet.

  • Livestock

A Do Not Consume Notice is imposed to protect human health. If you have concerns regarding your animals' drinking water that is subject to a Do Not Consume Notice then you should consult your local vet.

Updates area available on the Water Supply Updates section of the Uisce Éireann website, on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.

Uisce Éireann and Louth County Council would like to remind customers supplied by Greenmount Public Water Scheme that the Do Not Consume Notice issued on Wednesday 1 December remains in place until further notice.

The Do Not Consume Notice was placed as a precaution to protect the health of 3,995 customers as elevated ammonia levels in the source water resulted in the plant being unable to treat water to the required standard. Areas affected include Castlebellingham, Dunleer, Annagassan and surrounding areas. A map of the impacted area is attached and is also available on the Supply and Service Updates section of our website.

The water is not safe for consumption or the preparation of foods, but is safe for hygiene and use in washing machines and dishwashers. It is especially important that mains drinking water is not given to bottle fed infants. Uisce Éireann would like to remind the public to continue to follow public health advice on handwashing and hygiene.

Uisce Éireann's primary focus is the protection of public health. We would like to reassure our customers that Uisce Éireann’s drinking water compliance and operational experts are working in partnership with Louth County Council to lift the Do Not Consume Notice as quickly and as safely as possible, in consultation and agreement with the HSE.

Please note this is not a Boil Water Notice. Boiling and cooling the water is not a suitable measure to make this water safe to consume. This notice does not apply to other areas or water schemes in Co Louth. Please view the attached map of the areas impacted.

Bottled water continues to be provided for vulnerable customers who are registered on this supply in adherence with current HSE advice. We would ask vulnerable customers or those who have concerns about leaving their homes during the current pandemic to contact our customer care team, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278.

Due to deteriorating weather conditions on the ground caused by Storm Barra and to protect the safety of staff and customers, the alternative water supply stations at Kilsaran and Dunleer have been temporarily removed until current weather conditions improve. We will issue a further update when it is safe to return the alternative water supply stations to both sites. For updates on Storm Barra please visit www.gov.ie/stormbarra/.

Michael Cunniffe, Regional Operations Lead with Uisce Éireann, said: “Uisce Éireann acknowledges the impact of this notice on the local community and we would like to reassure impacted customers that our drinking water compliance and operational experts are working to resolve this issue as quickly and as safely as possible. We would ask customers who have concerns to contact our customer care team on 1800 278 278. The water is safe to use for handwashing and personal hygiene and all customers on this water supply scheme should continue to follow public health advice on handwashing at this time.

Public Health Advice:

This water should NOT be used for:

  • Drinking
  • Drinks made with water
  • Food preparation, washing or cooking of food
  • Brushing teeth
  • Making ice
  • 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 mains water for:

  • The water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing, flushing toilets, laundry and washing of utensils.

Water for animals          

Pets

  • It is a good idea to avoid giving tap water to your pet while a DNC notice is in place. If in doubt you should consult your local vet.

Livestock

  • A Do Not Consume Notice is imposed to protect human health. If you have concerns regarding your animals' drinking water that is subject to a Do Not Consume Notice then you should consult your local vet.

Updates area available on the Supply and Service Updates section of the Uisce Éireann website, on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.

Uisce Éireann and Louth County Council would like to remind customers supplied by Greenmount Public Water Scheme that the Do Not Consume Notice issued on Wednesday 1 December remains in place until further notice.

The Do Not Consume Notice was placed as a precaution to protect the health of 3,995 customers as elevated ammonia levels in the source water resulted in the plant being unable to treat water to the required standard. Areas affected include Castlebellingham, Dunleer, Annagassan and surrounding areas. A map of the impacted area is attached and is also available on the Supply and Service Updates section of our website.

The water is not safe for consumption or the preparation of foods, but is safe for hygiene and use in washing machines and dishwashers. It is especially important that mains drinking water is not given to bottle fed infants. Uisce Éireann would like to remind the public to continue to follow public health advice on handwashing and hygiene.

Uisce Éireann's primary focus is the protection of public health. We would like to reassure our customers that Uisce Éireann’s drinking water compliance and operational experts are working in partnership with Louth County Council to lift the Do Not Consume Notice as quickly and as safely as possible, in consultation and agreement with the HSE.

Please note this is not a Boil Water Notice. Boiling and cooling the water is not a suitable measure to make this water safe to consume. This notice does not apply to other areas or water schemes in Co Louth. Please view the attached map of the areas impacted.

Bottled water continues to be provided for vulnerable customers who are registered on this supply in adherence with current HSE advice. We would ask vulnerable customers or those who have concerns about leaving their homes during the current pandemic to contact our customer care team, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278.

Alternative water supplies in the form of intermediate bulk containers (IBC) will continue to be in place at the following locations from 7:00am until 8:00pm daily. The IBCs may be offsite for short periods if refilling is required during the day;

  • The Church Car Park, Kilsaran     
  • Public Car Park, Dunleer (Opposite Centra Shop)

Customers are reminded to use their own containers when taking water from the tankers and to boil and cool the water before consumption as a precautionary measure. Customers should follow HSE and government COVID-19 advice in relation to social distancing and mask wearing when collecting water from tankers.

Michael Cunniffe, Regional Operations Lead with Uisce Éireann, said: “Uisce Éireann acknowledges the impact of this notice on the local community and we would like to reassure impacted customers that our drinking water compliance and operational experts are working to resolve this issue as quickly and as safely as possible. We would ask customers who have concerns to contact our customer care team on 1800 278 278. The water is safe to use for handwashing and personal hygiene and all customers on this water supply scheme should continue to follow public health advice on handwashing at this time.

Public Health Advice:

This water should NOT be used for:

  • Drinking
  • Drinks made with water
  • Food preparation, washing or cooking of food
  • Brushing teeth
  • Making ice
  • 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 mains water for:
The water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing, flushing toilets, laundry and washing of utensils.

Water for animals          

Pets

It is a good idea to avoid giving tap water to your pet while a DNC notice is in place. If in doubt you should consult your local vet.

Livestock

A Do Not Consume Notice is imposed to protect human health. If you have concerns regarding your animals' drinking water that is subject to a Do Not Consume Notice then you should consult your local vet.

Updates area available on the Supply and Service Updates section of our website, on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.

Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Louth County Council, has issued a Do Not Consume Notice to protect the health of 3,995 customers supplied by the Greenmount Public Water Supply following an issue with the treatment process at the plant. Areas affected include Castlebellingham, Dunleer, Annagassan and surrounding areas. A map of the impacted area is attached and is also available on the Supply and Service Updates section of our website.

The water is not safe for consumption or the preparation of foods, but is safe for hygiene and use in washing machines and dishwashers. It is especially important that mains drinking water is not given to bottle fed infants. Uisce Éireann would like to remind the public to continue to follow public health advice on handwashing and hygiene.

Uisce Éireann's primary focus is the protection of public health. We would like to reassure our customers that Uisce Éireann’s drinking water compliance and operational experts are working in partnership with Louth County Council to lift the Do Not Consume Notice as quickly and as safely as possible, in consultation and agreement with the HSE. The EPA have been notified of the Do Not Consume Notice.

Please note this is not a Boil Water Notice. Boiling and cooling the water is not a suitable measure to make this water safe to consume. This notice does not apply to other areas or water schemes in Co Louth. Please view the attached map of the areas impacted.

We have directly notified and arranged bottled water for vulnerable customers who are registered on this supply in adherence with current HSE advice. We would ask vulnerable customers or those who have concerns about leaving their homes during the current pandemic to contact our customer care team, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278.

Alternative water supplies in the form of intermediate bulk containers (IBC) will be in place at the following locations from 4:00pm today until 8:00pm this evening and from 7:00am until 8:00pm on all subsequent days for which they are required. The IBCs may be offsite for short periods if refilling is required during the day: 

  • The Church Car Park, Kilsaran     
  • Public Car Park, Dunleer (Opposite Centra Shop)

Customers are reminded to use their own containers when taking water from the tankers and to boil and cool the water before consumption as a precautionary measure. Customers should follow HSE and government COVID-19 advice in relation to social distancing and mask wearing when collecting water from tankers.

Michael Cunniffe, Regional Operations Lead with Uisce Éireann, said: “Uisce Éireann acknowledges the impact of this notice on the local community and we would like to reassure impacted customers that our drinking water compliance and operational experts are working to resolve this issue as quickly and as safely as possible. We would ask customers who have concerns to contact our customer care team on 1800 278 278. The water is safe to use for handwashing and personal hygiene and all customers on this water supply scheme should continue to follow public health advice on handwashing at this time.

Public Health Advice:

This water should NOT be used for:

  • Drinking
  • Drinks made with water
  • Food preparation, washing or cooking of food
  • Brushing teeth
  • Making ice
  • 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 mains water for:

  • The water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing, flushing toilets, laundry and washing of utensils.

Updates area available on the Supply and Service Updates section of our website, on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.