A ‘boil water notice’ remains in place in south county Roscommon, a full week on from the announcement of an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis last Thursday.
On the continued advice of the HSE, the council is advising householders in the area of south Roscommon supplied by the Killeglan scheme to boil their water until further notice, after several cases of cryptosporidium were confirmed.
On Wednesday the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ) carried out an audit of the scheme, the results of which are not yet available.
The council are also awaiting results of water samples that will indicate the likely type of contamination, whether human, animal, or both. This may assist in efforts to pinpoint the origin of the contamination.
In the meantime, customers are being advised to boil water for the following purposes: drinking or drinks made with water; preparation of salads and foods which are not cooked prior to eating; brushing of teeth; and the making of ice. Un-boiled water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing, and flushing of toilets, but not for brushing teeth or gargling.
Local councillor John Naughten said the situation was “unacceptable”, and called for a waiver of water charges for businesses affected by the current water problems.
Cllr John Keogh said he had “grave concerns that this precautionary boil notice may not be lifted for a considerable period of time”.
“As major works need to be carried out to upgrade the water supply network in south Roscommon, I believe that it might not be possible for the current system to meet that specific criteria, even though the problem with the contamination might be contained and removed and the water actually safe to drink within a short timeframe.”
He also criticised Minister Phil Hogan’s delay in relation to upgrading the water networks.
The South Roscommon Water Supply is part of a Four Scheme Design Build Operate Bundle project, which provides for the construction of five new water treatment plants, including at Killeglin which will also include appropriate cryptosporidium barriers. A report on tenders was submitted to the Department of the Environment on October 2.
The areas affected by the ‘Boil water notice’ include Dysart, Brideswell, Esker, Bealnamulla, Crancam, Cloonown, Cornafulla, Nure, Lowtown, Thomastown, Moore, Cloonburren, Creggan, Oldtown, Ballydangan, Cullaghmore, Beagh, Suckfield, Cloonulty, Ballygortagh, Carrowreigh, Taughmaconnell, Killeglan, Castlesampson, Feevagh, Ardkeenan, Drum, Tulrush, Ardnaglug, Skyvalley, Newtown, and Cloonkeen.
The following group water schemes are also affected: Ballygortagh, Camlagh, Castlesampson, Creggan Cornafulla, Culleen, Culliaghmore, Dysart, Esker, Griffin/Kilroy, Knock, Taughmaconnell, Moore, Oldtown Clonown, Oonagh Taughmaconnell, and Parkmore.
Regular updates are available on www.roscommoncoco.ie
