Temporary Do Not Consume Notice lifted for all customers supplied by Athlone Public Water Supply Scheme
19 April 2024
Information below is relevant until further updates are provided here or on our Supply and Service Updates section.
Customers thanked for their patience and co-operation during the notice
Uisce Éireann and Westmeath County Council can confirm that the temporary Do Not Consume Notice impacting customers supplied by Athlone Public Water Supply from 5pm until 9pm this evening has been lifted with immediate effect and the water is safe to drink.
The notice was issued to protect approximately 20,000 customers following a technical fault at the water treatment plant which resulted in water outages and a temporary elevation in fluoride levels.
Normal water supply is returning to customers, however, it may take a number of hours for full supply to restore to all customers, especially those at the end of the network or on high ground.
Speaking about the lifting of the notice, Jim Fitzgerald, Uisce Éireann’s Regional Operations Manager said: “Uisce Éireann acknowledges and understands the impact this Do Not Consume Notice had on the community in Athlone and we sincerely regret the inconvenience. Our drinking water compliance and operational experts worked hard to resolve this issue as quickly and as safely as possible. We are grateful to the media, elected representatives and members of the public who shared the information”.
All consumers on the Athlone Public Water Supply Scheme can now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking.
If customers have any queries regarding this Do Not Consume Notice and the lifting of it, they should contact Uisce Éireann directly on our customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278.
Uisce Éireann is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.
Previous Updates
Notice in place from 5pm until 9pm tonight
Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Uisce Éireann, working in partnership with Westmeath County Council, has issued a temporary Do Not Consume Notice for Athlone Public Water Supply. The notice will be in place from 5pm until 9pm tonight.
The notice has been put in place following a technical fault at the water treatment plant which has resulted in water outages and a temporary elevation in fluoride levels. When the plant re-starts this evening there will be a short period where the water should not be consumed. Please note after 9pm the water will be safe to drink.
The notice applies to approximately 20,000 customers supplied by Athlone Public Water Supply.
Please note this is not a Boil Water Notice. Boiling the water will not reduce fluoride levels and is therefore not a suitable measure to make the water safe to consume. It is especially important that mains drinking water is not given to bottle fed infants.
Uisce Éireann drinking water compliance and operational experts are working with colleagues in Westmeath County Council to resolve this situation as soon as possible.
Speaking about the imposition of the notice, Jim Fitzgerald Regional Operations Manager with Uisce Éireann said: “Uisce Éireann is aware of the impact a temporary Do Not Consume Notice has on the community and would like to reassure impacted customers that we are working to lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible. We would ask customers who have concerns to contact our customer care team on 1800 278 278.”
This water should not be used for
- Drinking
- Drinks made with water
- Children under 12 months old should not drink this water
- In particular, children under 12 months old should not drink this water. This water should not be used for making up infant formula for bottled fed infants. An alternative source of water should be used. Bottled water can also be used to make up infant formula. All bottled water, with the exception of natural mineral water, is regulated to the same standard as drinking water. It is best not to use bottled water labelled as ‘Natural Mineral Water’ as it can have high levels of sodium (salt) and other minerals, although it rarely does. ‘Natural Mineral Water’ can be used if no other water is available, for as short a time as possible, as it is important to keep babies hydrated.
- If bottled water is used to make up infant formula it should be boiled once (rolling boil for 1 minute), and cooled in the normal way
- Ready-to-use formula that does not need added water can also be used.
- Domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink
What can you use water for?
- The water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing, flushing toilets, laundry and washing of utensils
Updates are available on our Water Supply Updates section on our website, on X (Formerly Twitter) @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278.