A BOIL WATER notice for 10,000 people in East Cork is set to remain in place for “six to eight months” according to Irish Water.
The notice for the Whitegate/Dower Rural Water Supply Scheme was put in place last week and could now remain in place until as late as November.
Irish Water says that the boil water notice is because of the cloudiness in the water due to heavy rainfall in the area recently.
The heavy rainfall means that the ground surrounding the local water treatment plant is water-loggeed and water entering the plant is cloudier than is recommended.
Irish Water says that if the cloudiness, or turbidity, is above and allowable level then the plant automatically shuts down as full treatment can not be guaranteed.
The treatment plant in Whitegate supplies 9 million litres of water for 10,000 people every day.
This is the third time in two months that people in this area have received notice to boil or buy their drinking water. The decision to issue boil water notices are taken by Irish Water in conjunction with the Health Service Executive.
The latest advice that it will remain in place for six to eight month was also made after consultation with the HSE.
Irish Water says that upgrade works are being made at Whitegate to limit the effects of but this “short-term solution” will not be completed for up to eight months.
Until then, the utility is advising the customers to boil all water for drinking, food preparation, brushing of teeth and making ice until further notice.
However, unboiled water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets.
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