RESIDENTS of County Meath are being warned not to drink or wash with the tap water in their homes due to increased chlorine levels in the water supply.
Irish Water has told residents in south Meath to avoid using water for the time being following a number of instances of young children have been coming out in bad rashes and feeling unwell due to the higher-than-usual chemical levels.
The warning has been directed towards those in Kilcloon, Moygaddy, Killeany, Kilgraigue, Harristown, Brownstown, Ballynare, Butlerstown, Staffordstown, Brownrath, Blackhall Little, Waynestown, Harlockstown, Ballymacoll.
I’m calling for a full explanation of how these elevated chlorine levels occurred, an explanation for the illnesses and injuries suffered and why Irish Water only responding now to something so serious that was reported on Monday @LMFMRADIO @meathchronicle https://t.co/R2520EmPp3
— Thomas Byrne (@ThomasByrneTD) February 7, 2018
It has also been reported that a Boil Water notice is currently in place for County Sligo.
Up to 13,000 people in a large area of south and west Sligo are currently on a boil water notice due to the discovery of cryptosporidium in the system.
For years, the quality of the water from the Lough Talt scheme has been of concern. Irish Water says it hopes to be able to resubmit a planning application for a new treatment plant at Lough Talt within the coming months.
Irish Water issued the following statement.
"Customers must not drink the water or wash in the water until further notice but we expect that the issue will be resolved later tonight. We will provide further updates on this throughout the day. Customers are also advised to draw down the water in their attic tanks to flush out their internal plumbing system.
"Bottled water will be available at Kilcloon Church and Kilcloon School from 2pm today and will remain in place until tomorrow afternoon.
"Leaflets advising customers of the do not drink and do not wash notice will be hand-delivered to properties in the impacted area.
"Irish Water apologises for the inconvenience caused by the imposition of this do not drink and do not wash notice and thanks to our customers for their patience while we work to remove the notice as quickly as possible.
Irish Water says it is flushing the network to remove the high chlorine levels. "We working closely Meath County Council and the HSE to monitor the supply and lift the notice as quickly as possible."
You can follow the areas affected on this map here.
