Irish Water, working in partnership with Cork County Council, wish to remind customers on the Whiddy Island Public Water Supply that the Do Not Consumer Notice issued on 7 September remains in place until further notice.
The notice was issued due to low water levels at the raw water extraction point which resulted in a prolonged period of high levels of colour and turbidity in the treated water. This caused the drinking water quality entering the Whiddy Island public water supply to be affected.
Neil Smyth of Irish Water said:
“A significant amount of improvement works on-site have now been completed. Final commissioning is ongoing and will be completed over the coming days. A programme of water quality sampling will soon be underway to determine whether the Do Not Consume notice can be lifted or if further remediation works will be needed.
“Public health remains our number one priority. We would like to thank the people of Whiddy Island for their patience and cooperation throughout this Do Not Consume Notice, especially as it was ongoing over the Christmas season. I would like to remind everyone that bottled water remains available at ‘The Bankhouse’ on the island.”
Water must not be used for:
- Drinking
- Preparing drinks made with water
- Preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating
- Brushing of teeth and/or gargling
- Making of ice.
You may use your water for the following:
- Personal hygiene, baths and showers
- Flushing of toilets
- Watering plants and flowers
Caution:
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
Discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges.
If you have pets and are concerned about the impact of providing mains water while this Do Not Consume Notice is in place, you should ask your local vet for advice.
Only use Prepared/ Bottled Water when preparing foods that will not be cooked (e.g. washing and preparing salads)
Preparing Infant Formula:
Where a Do Not Consume Notice is in place, you can prepare infant formula from bottled water. 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.
