Works continue to address water discolouration issues in Dundalk
14 July 2021
Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Louth County Council, are continuing with works to restore normal water supply to some customers in Dundalk impacted by discoloured water. Uisce Éireann and Louth County Council investigated the matter and found the substantive cause being a large burst on the network which caused sediment to be dislodged and carried through the network to the customer tap. Following the successful completion of repairs some customers continued to experience discoloured water. Further investigations found this discolouration was caused by the presence of manganese.
A programme of works is currently underway at the Cavanhill water treatment plant to reduce manganese levels in the final treated water which will help reduce the likelihood of future sediment build-up in the network. An interim Manganese treatment system is now installed and modifications to the system are underway following initial testing. The final performance testing is expected to be completed shortly. Following the successful completion of testing to ensure the treatment system is operating with maximum effectiveness, we will conduct a network flushing programme in Dundalk town and environs to clear the network of any remaining sediment. Customers will be given advance notice of when these flushing works will commence.
In the meantime customers are advised that if their water is discoloured, to continue running the tap for a few minutes to restore the clear colour. If the colour does not restore to clear, customers are advised not the drink the water as a precaution, and should contact Uisce Éireann using the contact details below.
Uisce Éireann can confirm that the Manganese levels found are not at a level that would pose a risk to health, and are continuing to decrease. Two further rounds of network monitoring were undertaken last week and all results were compliant. We continue to closely monitor both the plant and network in consultation with the Health Services Executive (HSE). If the situation changes, and a risk to public health arises, we will notify all affected customers immediately.
Uisce Éireann apologises for any inconvenience as a result of this issue.
For more information on issues in drinking water, customers can visit the Supply and Service Updates section of our website. Information on drinking water quality can be found in our Water Quality section. The HSE have also produced an informative Frequently Asked Questions on Manganese in drinking water which can be found here (FAQ).
Customers with queries or concerns about the quality of their drinking water should contact the Uisce Éireann customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 or via Twitter @IWCare.
Uisce Éireann continues to work at this time, with our local authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of drinking water and wastewater services. Uisce Éireann would like to remind customers to follow the HSE COVID-19 advice on handwashing.
Previous Updates
Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Louth County Council, are continuing with works to restore normal water supply to some customers in Dundalk impacted by discoloured water. Uisce Éireann and Louth County Council investigated the matter and found the substantive cause being a large burst on the network which caused sediment to be dislodged and carried through the network to the customer tap. Following the successful completion of repairs some customers continued to experience discoloured water. Further investigations found this discolouration was caused by the presence of manganese.
A programme of works is currently underway at the Cavanhill water treatment plant to reduce manganese levels in the final treated water which will help reduce the likelihood of future sediment build-up in the network. These works include the installation of an interim Manganese treatment system which is currently being performance tested. Following the successful testing and completion of these works, we will conduct a network flushing programme in Dundalk town and environs to clear the network of any remaining sediment. Customers will be given advance notice of when these flushing works will commence.
In the meantime customers are advised that if their water is discoloured, to continue running the tap for a few minutes to restore the clear colour. If the colour does not restore to clear, customers are advised not the drink the water as a precaution, and should contact Uisce Éireann using the contact details below.
Uisce Éireann can confirm that the Manganese levels found are not at a level that would pose a risk to health, and are continuing to decrease. Two further rounds of network monitoring were undertaken last week and all results were compliant. We continue to closely monitor both the plant and network in consultation with the Health Services Executive (HSE). If the situation changes, and a risk to public health arises, we will notify all affected customers immediately.
Uisce Éireann apologises for any inconvenience as a result of this issue.
For more information on issues in drinking water, customers can visit the Water Supply section of our website. Information on drinking water quality can be found in our Water Quality section. The HSE have also produced an informative Frequently Asked Questions on Manganese in drinking water which can be found here (FAQ).
Customers with queries or concerns about the quality of their drinking water should contact the Uisce Éireann customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 or via Twitter @IWCare.
Uisce Éireann continues to work at this time, with our local authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of drinking water and wastewater services. Uisce Éireann would like to remind customers to follow the HSE COVID-19 advice on handwashing.