Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Irish Water and Westmeath County Council are issuing a Water Notice with immediate effect to protect the health of approximately 19,000 consumers supplied by Athlone Water Treatment.
The Boil Water notice will remain in place for 24 hours until 6pm tomorrow after which normal use of the water supply can be resumed for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth.
Areas impacted include:
Athlone Town, West Side, Baylough, Coosan, Baylin, Creve, Mount Temple, Glasson, Tubberclare, The Ories, Garrycastle, Ardnaglug, Fardrum, Moydrum, Blyry, Killyon Hill, Bonavalley, Athlone and surrounds in Co. Westmeath. A map of the extents of the area this Boil Water Notice applies to is attached. Customers can also check if they are impacted by this Boil Water Notice by visiting www.water.ie/help/water-quality/ and entering their property’s Eircode in the search bar.
The Boil Water Notice has been put in place as a precaution to protect public health following an issue with the disinfection process which resulted in small quantities of inadequately disinfected water entering the supply. The issue is now resolved. However, the Boil Water Notice will remain in place as a precaution for 24 hours, until 6pm tomorrow, 11 March. In the meantime, all customers on this supply are advised to boil their water before use.
John Gavin, Asset Operations Lead with Irish Water, regrets the inconvenience to impacted customers, adding, “Public health is Irish Water’s number one priority and we would like to assure customers that the notice has been put in place as a precaution for 24 hours to protect public health.
“We advise all customers supplied by Athlone Water Treatment to adhere to the Boil Water Notice until 6pm tomorrow. Works are also progressing at Athlone Treatment Plant to increase its capacity, provide increased resilience, and safeguard the supply for the future.”
In line with HSE COVID-19 advice and the requirement for frequent hand washing, Irish Water advises that the water remains suitable for this purpose and boiling the water is not required for handwashing.
Vulnerable customers who have registered with Irish Water will receive direct communication on this Boil Water Notice. Customers are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled.
