Boil alert on Mask water lifted
THE boil alert on a water scheme which supplies 46,500 consumers in Co. Mayo has been lifted this afternoon (Tuesday).
Irish Water and Mayo County Council has issued a statement to notify all customers on the scheme and associated group water schemes that, following advice from the Health Service Executive, the boil water notice issued on the supply on September 2 is now lifted, with immediate effect.
Daily sampling at the source, at the treatment plant and on the network since the boil water notice was issued did not identify any presence of cryptosporidium.
An independent audit carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency at the plant confirmed that there were significant improvements to the filter management and control at the plant since their previous audit in May 2015. This was as a result of works undertaken at the plant over the past year and a half. It also stated there was no evidence of filter breakthrough in the lead up to the cryptosporidium detection.
Intensive investigations carried out by Irish Water and Mayo County Council on the plant mirror the findings of the independent EPA report.
Irish Water and Mayo County Council have also carried out extensive separate investigations on the water source and network and no issues have been identified.
The incident management team consider that comments contained in the independent EPA audit report confirm their own investigations on the robustness of the scheme and will give confidence to the public that the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply Scheme is a safe and reliable source of drinking water.
The HSE advise that there has been no confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis in the community directly linked to the failed sample. However, in the interest of public health Irish Water, Mayo County Council and the HSE will continue to closely monitor the scheme.
The areas served by the scheme include Castlebar, Westport, Claremorris, Ballinrobe, Ballyhaunis, Knock, Ballindine, Balla, Kilmaine, Cong and their associated hinterlands.
Irish Water and Mayo County Council have acknowledged the patience, cooperation and assistance of the general public during the period of the boil water notice and greatly regrets any inconvenience caused to householders, the farming and the business community.
The Irish Water Customer Contact Centre (1850 278 278) is available to answer customer queries in relation to this water notice. Further information is available on the Irish Water website at www.water.ie and Mayo County Council website www.mayococo.ie.