A full and comprehensive audit of the Lough Mask Water Treatment Plant was conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ) on Tuesday following the issuing of a boil water notice on the scheme last Friday evening. Representatives from Irish Water, Mayo County Council and the Health Service Executive (HSE ) were present at the audit.
In a statement from Irish Water they said that “The EPA requested additional information which was forwarded to them. We await the final report which is expected by the end of this week or early next week at the latest. This along with the results of the comprehensive sampling process will give us more clarity on the timelines for the lifting of the boil water notice which is a priority for all agencies involved.”
Sampling and testing is a part of the entire action plan being undertaken by Irish Water, Mayo County Council and the HSE. This boil water notice and subsequent investigation is due to the detection of cryptosporidium in a sample of water taken on August 31.
Irish Water’s Regional Information Specialist Sean Corrigan went on to say that, “To date Irish Water has not identified any issue that could be directly associated with the failed sample. But investigations are continuing at the plant and throughout the network. Irish Water, Mayo County Council and the HSE are treating this as a priority and at every level these organisations are working to find a speedy resolution to this incident,” he added.
Irish Water and Mayo County Council would like to remind customers supplied with water from the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply Scheme and associated Group Water Schemes that the boil water notice which was issued on the scheme on Friday, September 2, remains in place and the public are urged to continue boiling their water before use in food preparation and drinking.
A map of the affected area is available on www.water.ie and www.mayococo.ie and anyone with queries can contact the Irish Water helpline on 1850 278 278.
