Boil water notice issued for Achill during upgrade works

IRISH Water and Mayo County Council have advised customers supplied by the Achill Pubic Water Supply, including group water schemes, that a boil water notice will be issued on the supply from 9 a.m. on February 1 to accommodate the next phase of the planned works at the Achill Water Treatment Plant.

The boil notice will be in place for approximately six weeks and is necessary to protect customers while essential upgrade works are carried out at the water treatment plant.

Approximately 2,800 customers on the island and the adjacent mainland who are supplied by the Achill Public Water Supply must boil their water before drinking and preparing food from February 1.

There is no need for customers to buy bottled water. Once tap water is boiled and cooled it will be safe for consumption. The water is safe for all other applications including personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets.

The following are the Group Water Schemes served by the Achill Public Water Supply Scheme: Dooniver, Saulia No 2, Crumpaun; Dooega; Shraheens, Achill; Dugort No 1, Dugort No. 2, Dugort East, Valley 1, and Valley 3, Bleanaskil No 1 and Ards Curraun.

Irish Water and Mayo County Council, working in partnership with EPS, are upgrading the filtration and clarification treatment processes at the plant. These essential works will be carried out as quickly and as safely as possible and in line with Covid-19 protocols.

Customers are reminded to continue adhering to public health advice on hand washing and hygiene regarding Covid-19 while these upgrade works are underway. Irish Water will liaise with the HSE and EPA throughout the duration of the works.

To facilitate these works the treatment process will be compromised and this is why customers must boil their water before use to make it safe for consumption. Water must be boiled for drinking, preparation of salads and similar foods which are not cooked prior to eating, making of ice and brushing teeth.

Anthony Skeffington, regional operations manager for Irish Water, had this advice: “Public health is Irish Water’s number one priority and we continue to work with Mayo County Council to upgrade the Achill Water Treatment Plant on a phased basis. Customers can continue to use their water as normal between now and next Monday, February 1, at 9 a.m. From that point and until further notice they must boil their water before consumption. This is to facilitate the next phase of works being carried out to upgrade the water treatment plant.”

Added Martin Temple, asset delivery lead for Irish Water: “We acknowledge the impact a boil water notice has on a community and we thank our customers in advance for their patience and cooperation while these essential works are taking place to provide more robust treatment processes at the Achill Water Treatment Plant. These works will improve the clarification process thus improving the quality and capacity of the water treatment plant.

“The works will take a number of weeks to complete and we will update customers once we have a completion date. In line with HSE Covid 19 advice and the requirement for frequent hand washing, Irish Water advise that the water remains suitable for this purpose and boiling the water is not required.”

Vulnerable customers registered with Irish Water will be contacted directly by Irish Water. They are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled.

Business customers will receive a 40 per cent rebate on the cost of the supply of water to their businesses for the duration of the notice.