Boil water notice issued in westport

IRISH Water has issued a boil water notice as a precautionary measure to 6,400 customers in Westport due to eight cases of Cryptosporidiosis in the area being reported to the HSE in recent weeks. 

Although water testing has not detected the presence of Cryptosporidium in the supply serving this area, seven of the eight cases identified have been in the area serviced by Westport public water scheme.

Drinking water is one possible source for this potentially serious infectious disease and in the interest of public health, and in the absence of the definite source of the illness being identified, the boil water notice is being issued by Irish Water on advice from the HSE. Persons with an impaired immune system, young children and older people are most susceptible to Cryptosporidium.

Drinking water produced at Westport water treatment works is routinely sampled for Cryptosporidium and to date nothing has been detected. The most recent samples were returned last Friday and further sampling has been carried out this week.

Results of analysis on these samples are expected this coming Friday. Irish Water will continue to liaise with the HSE with a view to lifting the boil notice as soon as practicable.

Irish Water and Mayo County Council are in the process of providing an alternative supply from Lough Mask to parts of Westport to minimise the number of customers affected. 

Affected customers are advised to carefully following the guidance provided on the boil water notice.

Irish Water and Mayo County Council have apologised to all affected customers for the inconvenience and disruption caused.

All users on the Westport Public Water Scheme and the following public group water schemes should BOIL WATER BEFORE USE until advised otherwise:

Westport Water Supply

Ballinlough pGWS

Cloghans pGWS

Brackloon/Bohea pGWS

Cushlough pGWS

Farnaught pGWS

Rosmoney West pGWS

 

The following areas are NOT INCLUDED in this boil notice and water is fit for consumption:

Sheeaun

Allergan

Knockranny

Buckwaria

Clogher GWS