Boil water notice which affected over 2,000 Limerick customers has been lifted

GOOD NEWS for 2,300 Uisce Éireann customers in Limerick, as a boil water notice has been lifted with immediate effect.

The boil water notice on the Cappamore Foileen Public Water Supply has been lifted. 

Uisce Éireann has confirmed that, following consultation with the HSE, customers can now resume normal use of the public water supply. 

“The notice was issued on 26 September 2023 to protect the health of approximately 2,300 customers. The notice was put in place due to the detection of cryptosporidium in the water supply,” the official statement reads.

“Drinking water experts from Uisce Éireann worked to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible. Following satisfactory water sampling results, the notice has now been lifted.”

Following the issuing of the Boil Water Notice in September 2023, the planned upgrade of the water treatment plant was expedited, shortening the timeline of the project, in order to lift the Boil Water Notice as soon as possible. 

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Uisce Éireann’s operations manager, Eoin O’Connell, acknowledged the impact of the lengthy boil water notices on customers' lives and thanked the community for their patience and support while the notice was in place. 

“Uisce Éireann’s primary focus remains the protection of public health and we worked with our stakeholders to lift the notice as quickly as possible.

“We are grateful to customers, elected representatives, and the media for their patience while works were ongoing and assistance in sharing information on the Boil Water Notice.” 

This upgrade involved the installation of new booster pumps, a filtration system, and a state-of-the-art ultraviolet disinfection unit, which will provide an effective and reliable barrier to eliminate the risk of cryptosporidium.  

Uisce Éireann’s programme manager, Donagh Goulding, added: “We are pleased to have completed these works, which has resulted in a significant positive impact on the Cappamore and Foileen communities. 

“This upgrade was a critical project for Uisce Éireann and we look forward to seeing both communities thrive into the future.”   

Uisce Éireann’s drinking water standards, as per EU Drinking Water regulations, are strict and include wide safety margins.

Where risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Éireann’s enhanced testing and monitoring programme, the HSE is consulted, and Boil Water Notices are issued to protect public health.

In all instances, immediate action is taken to address the cause of the issue to enable the lifting of the notice as quickly as it is safe to do so, in agreement with the HSE.