Solution to address boil water notice affecting thousands of Limerick residents ‘months away’

THOUSANDS of residents in west Limerick who have been advised to boil their water before consuming it have been told a solution is "months away".

A boil water notice was placed on the Foynes/Shannon Estuary Public Water Supply earlier this month following the detection of cryptosporidium - around 7,000 customers are impacted.

Cryptosporidium can cause respiratory illness if consumed and high levels were detected in the water supply by Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water) on Saturday, May 13.

A special meeting of the Adare/Rathkeale Municipal District took place this Friday morning to discuss the problem and the potential solutions.

A member of Uisce Éireann was present and he confirmed there are plans to remove an ultraviolet reactor from its location in Cork to be re-installed in the Foynes/Shannon water plant on the Shannon Estuary. The reactor renders the cryptosporidium in the water inactive.

Boil water notice issued in Limerick

The installation of the ultraviolet reactor is a temporary measure as Uisce Éireann has plans to replace the filter media in the four sand filters in the water plant. However, this will take anywhere between 12 to 24 months to complete.

Independent councillor for Adare-Rathkeale John O’Donoghue believes the installation of the ultraviolet reactor as a temporary measure is not something “we’ll see this side of Christmas”.

“There’s a lot of work to be done before we even start moving the reactor,” Cllr O’Donoghue said.

“They have to take it out of the plant in Cork and the pipework that comes with it, reinstall it on the estuary, reinstall all the pipework and then test it,” he added.

Fine Gael Cllr Adam Teskey believes the current boil water notice is due to “years of lack of investment into the plant” located on the Shannon Estuary.

“There should be better communication between Uisce Éireann. The public has been left hanging, not knowing what’s happening,” Cllr Teskey told the Limerick Leader/Limerick Live.

Cllr Teskey believes businesses and households should be compensated for having to put up with the boil water notice.

Concerns were also raised about immunocompromised people affected by the boil water notice as a Limerick man with a serious health condition has been advised to shower away from his home due to the detection of cryptosporidium in the water.

Limerick man with health condition advised not to shower at home due to boil notice

During the meeting, Cllr O’Donoghue asked if Uisce Éireann has any plans to install an ultraviolet light in the water systems of those who are immunocompromised.

“Irish Water are supplying the water to the customer, therefore if someone is immunocompromised, would Uisce Éireann go to their premises and look at installing the ultraviolet light as that is something that can be done in 48 hours?” he stated.

The areas affected by the boil water notice include Askeaton, Foynes, Ballyhahill, Loghill, Ballysteen, Pallaskenry, Kildimo and Shanagolden and surrounding areas.

In a statement, issued this Friday afternoon, Uisce Éireann’s, Duane O’Brien said: “We are examining all options available to us to work towards lifting this boil water notice. Capital upgrades, including the installation of an ultraviolet reactor at the plant, have been approved. Please be assured we are working to resolve the issue and lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible. Public health remains our number one priority and we appreciate the impact that this notice is having on our customers in the area.”

Uisce Éireann has stated that those in the areas above must boil their water when drinking, drinks made with water, preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating, brushing of teeth, making of ice - discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges and make ice from cooled boiled water.