Irish Water leaves 1,300 customers without any update on E.coli levels
Over a week into a boil notice which has left over 1,300 customers in Ballygar without public drinking water, Irish Water has yet to provide an update on the source of the contamination.
Sampling last week revealed the presence of E.coli in the water network supplying water to the northeast Galway town and on advice from the Health Service Executive (HSE) the public getting water from the Ballygar scheme was advised to boil all water until further notice to avoid infection from the potentially dangerous bacteria.
The source of the contamination was not in the treatment plant and staff from Galway County Council and Irish Water were testing the pipe network to locate the source.
Initially all indications were that the boil notice would last days rather than weeks.
However a spokesperson for Irish Water said they were not in a position to give an update, over a week after the contamination was disclosed.
“Irish Water’s primary concern is the health and safety of the general public. Irish Water continues to investigate the source of contamination in Ballygar and is in constant contact with the HSE in relation to these investigations,” said a spokesperson.
“Irish Water will be issuing a further update at the end of this week or early next week.”
Glinsk resident and Independent TD for Roscommon South Leitrim Michael Fitzmaurice said the Ballygar water contamination was an unusual situation.
“In this case the water going through the local plant is perfectly acceptable however it is along the water supply line that there is a problem,” he stated.
“I am confident that within a week of the source of the problem being identified that the boil water notice will be lifted. This situation is not like the scenario that we have had with other boil water notices in the past.”
Mayo County Council gave the all-clear last weekend for beaches where abnormal levels of E.coli were detected, including Blue Flag beaches at Keel and Dugort on Achill Island.
The elevated levels of bacteria were blamed on “recent abnormal weather conditions”.
Galway City Council banned bathing in two beaches in Salthill for days last month
due to the detection of high levels of a bacteria called intestinal Enterococci, which can cause gastro-intestinal illness,
On re-sampling, the local authority said levels of both intestinal Enterococci and E.coli were “well within safe standards”.
Ballygar residents are advised to boil water before drinking, cooking, brushing teeth or making ice.