Following discussions with the Health Service Executive, Irish Water and Cork County Council have decided to issue a Boil Water Notice with immediate effect to protect the health of any consumers who are supplied by the Macroom Public Water Supply.
The Boil Water Notice has been put in place as a precautionary measure.
If you are unsure whether or not the Boil Water Notice applies to your area please visit www.water.ie or alternatively, customers can contact the Irish Water customer care helpline on 1800 278 278.
The notice affects an estimated 4,200 people, that are supplied by the Macroom Public Water Supply.
Cork County Council is continuing to work alongside Irish Water to rectify the issues at the Treatment Plant and they hope to lift the notice as safely and as quickly as possible.
Until further notice all customers on this supply are advised to boil their water before use.
Water must be boiled for:
- Drinking.
- Drinks made with water.
- Preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating.
- Brushing of teeth.
- Making of ice.
What you should do:
- Water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets but not for brushing teeth or gargling.
- Boil water by bringing it to a vigorous, rolling boil (e.g. with an automatic kettle) and then allow to cool. Cover and store in a refrigerator or cold place. Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink. Domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink.
- Caution should be taken when bathing children to ensure that they do not swallow the bathing water.
- Prepare infant feeds with water that has been brought to the boil once and cooled. Do not use water that has been re-boiled several times. If bottled water is used for the preparation of infant feeds, it should be boiled once and cooled. If you are using bottled water to prepare baby food, be aware that some natural mineral water may have high sodium content. The legal limit for sodium in drinking water is 200mg per litre. Check the label on the bottled water to make sure the sodium or `Na' is not greater than 200mg per litre. If it is, then it is advisable to use a different type of bottled water. If no other water is available, then use this water for as short a time as possible. It is important to keep babies hydrated.
