All households and businesses in the greater Aughacasla area are being urged to boil their water as a precaution.
A boil water notice has been issued for customers served by the Aughacasla Public Water Supply scheme.
This notice was put in place for 340 customers following consultation between the HSE, Uisce Éireann and Kerry County Council.
The decision was made due to increased turbidity impacting the treatment processes at the water treatment plant, which refers to the clarity of the water.
All customers on the Aughacasla Public Water Supply Scheme are affected.
Fianna Fáil councillor Breandán Fitzgerald says if anyone is unsure if they are affected, they should boil their water as a precaution:
Customers can check if their property is included by visiting www.water.ie and entering their eircode or by calling the Uisce Éireann’s on 1800 278 278.
Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Éireann receive direct communication on Boil Water Notices. Customers are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled.
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.
Uisce Eireann says great care should be taken with boiled water to avoid burns and scalds as accidents can easily happen, especially with children.
