Water supply finally safe for thousands living in Laois and Offaly after substantial 'reconfiguration'

The Boil Water Notice for all customers in the Tullamore South and Clonaslee areas has been lifted nearly a month after problems with the Slieve Bloom source were found.

Uisce Éireann, said on Friday, July 14, that, in partnership with Offaly and Laois County Councils, it was lifting the notice for all customers supplied by Tullamore South and Clonaslee Water Supply. It said the move followed remedial works and satisfactory sampling results. It added that the decision follows consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE). 

All consumers on the Tullamore South and Clonaslee Water Supply can now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth.

The Boil Water Notice was issued on 20 June to protect the health of approximately 3,900 customers due to raw water quality issues which impacted the treatment processes at the water treatment plant.

The untility never outlined what exactly went wrong but did say its drinking water experts and and those in the local Councils worked hard to lift the notice as quickly as safely as possible, carrying out a number of upgrade works at the treatment plant and substantial reconfiguration of the water network. It said the drinking water was compliant with EU drinking water regulations.

Uisce Éireann’s John Gavin acknowledged the impact of the notice on the community.

“Uisce Éireann regrets the inconvenience that the Boil Water Notice had on these communities in Offaly and Laois. I would like to thank them for their patience and support while our drinking water experts worked tirelessly with our colleagues in Offaly and Laois County Councils to lift the Boil Water Notice as quickly as it was safe to do so. I would also like to thank the local councillors and the media for their assistance in sharing the information during the period of this boil water notice," he said. 

The Uisce Éireann Customer Contact Centre, open 24/7 on freephone 1800 278 278, is available to answer queries in relation to the lifting of this notice. Further information is available on www.water.ie.