Boil Notice replaces Do Not Consume notice for Batterstown residents

With Christmas just around the corner, residents served by the Batterstown Public Water Scheme are still unable to drink their tap water- almost three months after a Do Not Consume notice was first issued.

While some progress was finally made today when the notice was changed to a boil notice, it still means that the 96 homes affected will have to boil their water before they can drink it and residents are still left with many questions that have not been answered.

Frustrated residents had been forced to use bottled water for everything from brushing their teeth to making a cup of tea since the notice was put out on 16th September because of a Bromate exceedance in the supply and they have no idea when they will finally be able to drink the water from their tap without boiling it first.

One resident, who is fraught with worry, as her elderly father keeps forgetting he can't drink the water, is pleading with Irish Water to sort out the problem so they can enjoy their Christmas.

Bernie Coldrick told the Meath Chronicle how her 81-year-old father suffers from Parkinsons Disease and she has to put notes up around the house to remind him not to drink the water.

"I am constantly trying to keep an eye on him. When I'm at work I get the neighbours to check on him. We have bottled water but he can't even open the bottle caps himself. He goes straight to the tap at the sink."

She said residents can't believe it is going on so long and don't know when it will be resolved.

"It is such a nuisance. You would forget about it yourself and go to wash your teeth in the morning and then remember.

"I am pleading with Irish Water to get it sorted by Christmas. It is going on too long. We need to get it sorted. We need some bit of hope here coming up to Christmas."

Leonie Kearney is Secretary of the Church View Residents Association and says they have got no information on what caused the problem or when it will be fixed.

"We are so concerned. How long was this going on before they noticed it? They never told us what Bromate does to people. We all have our concerns about what it could have been doing to us."

"We are told not to let a drop into our system but they haven't told us exactly what the repercussions are."

According to Irish Water, the bromate was caused by a combination of disinfection methods at the plant. In order to return it to compliant levels, one of the disinfection processes has been temporarily taken offline and enabled the Do Not Consume Notice to be changed to a Boil Water Notice.

Bottled water had been supplied since the Do Not Consume notice was put in place but Irish Water has said it will no longer supply bottled water now it has changed to a boil notice.

Michael Cunniffe, Regional Operations Lead with Irish Water, said: “Irish Water acknowledges the impact the Do Not Consume Notice had on the local community. Following the successful completion of remedial works we are able to reduce this to a Boil water Notice which will relieve some of the impact on customers. Customers can now consume their tap water provided it is boiled and cooled. We would like to reassure impacted customers that our drinking water compliance and operational experts are continuing works to remove the Boil Water 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. The water is safe to use for handwashing and personal hygiene and all customers on this water supply scheme should continue to follow public health advice on handwashing at this time.”