[UPDATE] Do Not Consume Notice issued for all customers supplied by the Achill Water Supply Scheme remains in place
Date: 10-08-2020
(Monday 10 August 2020) Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE) Irish Water, working in partnership with Mayo County Council, issued a Do Not Consume Notice on Friday for all residents of and visitors to Achill Island. Everyone on the island, whether supplied by the Achill Public Water Supply Scheme or any of the Group Water Schemes and parts of the adjacent mainland are affected by this notice. Irish Water would like to remind customers that the notice remains in place and that water should not be consumed or used to wash foods.
An incident management team comprising staff from Irish Water and Mayo County Council has been established to manage the incident.
The following are the Group Water Schemes served by the Achill Public Water Supply Scheme;
Dooniver GWS
Saulia No 2 GWS
Crumpaun GWS
Dooega GWS
Shraheens, Achill GWS
Dugort No 1 GWS
Dugort No. 2 GWS
Dugort East GWS
Valley 1 GWS
Valley 3 GWS
An alternative water supply is in place to support residents and visitors to Achill.
Some tanker locations have been added to the list while others have been re- located to other locations. The full revised location list as of Monday 10th of August is as follows
1. Tonragee National School
2. Belfarsad Church
3. Corraun Church
4. Alices, Achill Sound
5. Achill Sound Hotel
6. St Fionnians/House of Prayer, Achill Sound
7. Pattens Bar, Dereens
8. Ashleam
9. Lavelles Bar, Dooega
10. Saila National School
11. & 12. Ted Lavelles, Cashel
13. Bunnacurry National School
14. Dooinver National School
15. Valley National School
16. Mastersons Bar, Doogort
17. Doogort Campsite
18. Slievemore Holiday Village
19. Desserted Village Rd, Slievemore
20. Dookinella National School
21. Barrett's Shop/Keel Campsite 1 No. small tanker
22. Barrett's Shop/Keel Campsite 1 No. large tanker
23. Keel Hall
24. Aquarium
25. St Coleman's Day Centre, Keel
26. Cuanaoibhinn Housing, Keel
27. Achill Head
28. Dooagh National School
29. Gielty's Bar, Dooagh
Customers are reminded to use their own containers when taking water from the tankers and to boil water before consumption as a precautionary measure.
It is especially important that mains drinking water is not given to bottle fed infants. Water is safe to use for handwashing and personal hygiene and customers should continue to follow public health advice on handwashing at this time.
It is important to continue to follow the HSE guidance when collecting water including social distancing and hand hygiene.
With the support of Mayo County Council we are providing bottled water to vulnerable customers. Any vulnerable customers who have concerns can contact our customer care team on 1850 278 278.
With the water treatment plant continuing to see high levels of demand we are once again asking customers and visitors to Achill to conserve water wherever possible. There are ways to conserve water that will not impact on hygiene or handwashing. Simple water conservation efforts can have a big impact on reducing demand on the supply.
Taking a shower instead of a bath or using a watering can rather than a hose when gardening can make a big difference in water use. We are also reminding people with responsibility for properties that are currently unoccupied to check for leaks and turn off water where it is not required. There are more conservation tips and guidance for homes, businesses and farms, including information on how much water you can save with simple measures on our website https://www.water.ie/conservation/
Irish Water is working closely with Mayo County Council to lift the notice as quickly as it is safe to do so and to safeguard the water supply for the future. Updates will be available on our Water Supply Updates section, on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1850 278 278.
Please note important advice below.
This water should not be used for
- Drinking
- Drinks made with water
- Food preparation, washing or cooking of food,
- Brushing of teeth
- Making of ice
- Children under 12 months old should not drink this water
- In particular, children under 12 months old should not drink this water. This water should not be used for making up infant formula for bottled fed infants. An alternative source of water should be used. 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.
- Domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink
- Caution should be taken when bathing infants to ensure that they do not swallow the bathing water
- Discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges
What can you use water for?
The water can be used for personal hygiene, washing of hands, bathing, flushing toilets, laundry and washing of utensils
- Irish Water and Mayo County Council will continue to liaise with the Health Service Executive with a view to lifting this drinking water restriction as soon as practicable.
