Irish Water and Cork County Council have reminded customer supplied by the Killavullen Public Water Supply that a Boil Water Notice remains in place to protect public health.
The Boil Water Notice, issued on 2 May 2022, was put in place due to high levels of turbidity in the borehole supply.
Irish Water and Cork County Council say they continue to work to rectify the issues at Killavullen Water Treatment Plant with a view to lifting the notice as quickly and as safely as possible.
Irish Water’s Operations Lead, Pat Britton said: “Again I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of Irish Water and Cork County Council to the people of Killavullen who have been living with this Boil Water Notice since May. I understand it is extremely frustrating for all the community and all concerned, but I would like to reiterate that we are working as quickly as we can to resolve these complex issues on site. Unfortunately, we are still experiencing ongoing turbidity issues in the water source which are preventing us from lifting the notice.
“Turbidity events are still occurring, and we have not yet reached stable conditions that would allow us to begin consulting with the HSE with a view to lifting the notice. Works are being advanced to install larger storage and a run to waste from the borehole that would allow us manage turbidity events and reduce future Boil Water Notice durations. The long-term plan is to rationalise and decommission the source. Irish Water has approved funding to build a pipeline that will connect Killavullen to the Mallow Public Water Supply Scheme. We will keep the community updated as this progresses, but it will take two to three years before it will be operational.”
Vulnerable customers who have registered with Irish Water receive direct communication on this Boil Water Notice and are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled. Those who have concerns should contact our customer care team on 1800 278 278.
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 - discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges. Make ice from cooled boiled water.
What actions should be taken:
- Use water prepared for drinking when preparing foods that will not be cooked (e.g. washing salads).
- Water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets but not for brushing teeth or gargling.
- Boil water by bringing to a vigorous, rolling boil (e.g. with an automatic kettle) and 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.
- Preparing Infant Formula: Where a Boil Water Notice is in place, you can prepare infant formula from tap water that has been boiled once (rolling boil for 1 minute) and cooled beforehand. 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.
Great care should be taken with boiled water to avoid burns and scalds as accidents can easily happen, especially with children.
Irish Water is working closely with Cork County Council to lift the notice as soon as it is safe to do so. Updates will be available on our Water Supply Updates section on water.ie, on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278. Further information in relation to the Boil Water Notice is available from https://www.water.ie/water-supply/water-quality/boil-water-notice/
