Intensive flushing of the network has improved the water quality for thousands of homes in the Spiddal area under a Do Not Consume Notice, but has also depleted water supplies.
There are 5,676 homes and businesses in the Spiddal area which cannot drink the public water supply since mid-September due to elevated manganese levels.
Anthony Skeffington, Regional Operations Manager with Irish Water said, “The intensive flushing programme has resulted in an improvement in water quality.”
“However, we are seeing isolated pockets of sediment in the network which have been disturbed as a result of the flushing.”
“These essential flushing works are required to clear sediments from the distribution network and reduce the likelihood of future discolouration issues at the customer tap.”
“Any customers seeing discoloured water coming from their cold kitchen tap are advised to run the tap for a few minutes to restore the clear colour.”
The intensive flushing activities have put a strain on the water supply and reservoir levels are low.
Irish Water said that in order to allow reservoir levels to replenish, flushing activities will be targeted in specific areas over the coming days.
A second programme of water sampling is also being undertaken in concert with the HSE.
Alternative water supplies in the form of bulk tankers have been arranged and are in place at the following locations:
- Furbo Beach at Pádraicíns Seafood Bar & Restaurant;
- Spiddal Car Park, beside bottle bank;
- Inverin Church;
- Coláiste Chamuis (Across from An Pota and Tg4);
- Community Centre Rossaveal.
These will continue to be replenished daily until the Do Not Consume Notice is lifted.
