Extended boil water notice is not good enough - says Limerick councillor

THE CATHAOIRLEACH of the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District has strongly criticised Uisce Éireann over an ongoing boil water notice in parts of West Limerick.

Cllr Adam Teskey told the Limerick Leader: “The rhetoric coming from Uisce Éireann is extremely repetitive - we are getting no real updates.”

He told the Limerick Leader that 7,000 people under the Foynes Shannon Estuary water supply being on a boil water notice is “simply not good enough.”

The notice has been in place since May 2023, due to cryptosporidium in the water.

The issue was brought up at the previous two Adare-Rathkeale meetings most recently, as well as many more prior to those.

Cllr Teskey had asked Mayor John Moran to organise a meeting and was told that he would attend a meeting if he could, but that meetings could not be organised with just one item on the agenda.

In response to a request for that meeting, Adare-Rathkeale councillors were told in a letter from Uisce Éireann that: “Uisce Éireann is continuing efforts to lift the boil water notice in place for customers supplied by Foynes/Shannon Estuary public water supply.

“Members of our project team are on leave and therefore we are unable to meet as requested.”

The Limerick Leader contacted Uisce Éireann to respond to Cllr Teskey’s criticisms and a spokesperson said: “Uisce Éireann appreciates the continued patience of our customers as we continue working to enable the lifting of this boil water notice. Final commissioning works are progressing at Shannon Estuary Water Treatment Plant this month with data collation to be presented to the Health Service Executive (HSE) thereafter. Uisce Éireann will then consult with the HSE to discuss the possible lifting of the boil water notice.

“The rigorous testing and processes that are being carried out are crucial to ensure that the state-of-the-art ultraviolet disinfection unit installed at Shannon Estuary Water Treatment Plant is operating as intended. We are grateful to our customers, elected representatives, and the media for their assistance in sharing information on the boil water notice.”
Uisce Éireann is implementing remedial measures to existing processes and is also undertaking upgrades at the plant. This includes the installation of the UV unit which will provide an effective and reliable barrier to eliminate the risk of cryptosporidium. This unit will be capable of treating the equivalent of eight Olympic size swimming pools each day to serve the homes and businesses in the community.

In response to the update, Cllr Teskey said: “People are relying on this basic commodity for the basic existence of life. This situation is absolutely appalling.”

Cllr Teskey said that elderly people, those with young children or caring for someone are particularly affected.
He said that people within the Foynes Shannon Estuary area have been “failed by so many on this issue by the system at large.”

“It’s an absolute travesty,” he told the Limerick Leader.

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Areas impacted included Askeaton, Foynes, Ballyhahill, Loghill, Ballysteen, Pallaskenry, Kildimo, Shanagolden and surrounding areas.

Until the boil water notice is lifted, people in these areas must boil water for drinking, making drinks that use water, preparing salads or food that’s not cooked, brushing teeth and making ice.

Further updates are available on X by following @IWCare, by calling the helpline on 1800 278 278 or by visiting www.water.ie.