Irish Water has this afternoon lifted the boil water notice issued on the Lough Talt public water supply with immediate effect to benefit approximately 13,000 customers. Lifting the notice, in place since January 2019, will also benefit consumers supplied by the Ogham Group Water Scheme, and Cloontia, Doocastle and Quarryfield customers in Co Mayo. Following consultation with the HSE, Irish Water and Sligo County Council are advising customers that the drinking water can now be consumed as normal.
The boil water notice was imposed almost two years now, to protect public health due to ongoing detections of cryptosporidium in the public water supply. The Lough Talt water treatment plant built in 1972 did not provide adequate treatment for protection against cryptosporidium and the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs), and needed to be upgraded.
Irish Water working with Sligo County Council say the plant is now operational following a €10 million investment.
Minister Frank Feighin told Midwest News it’s very welcome news for the area.
A number of consumers in the Bellaghy area are still served by the Charlestown Public Water Supply. Irish Water and Sligo County Council will be carrying out preparatory works on the network in Bellaghy and surrounds over the coming week or so, in order to transfer them back to the Lough Talt scheme as quickly as possible. The consumers may experience some disruption to their current supply while these necessary works are taking place.
Should customers have any queries regarding the lifting of this notice they can check out the Water Supply Updates section on the Irish Water website www.water.ie or contact the company directly on Twitter @IWCare and via our customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1850 278 278.
