Irish Water criticised over information around ‘boil water’ notices and ‘do not consume’ warnings

Irish Water has been criticised by a second Minister over shortcomings in its communication with islanders off the west coast and the Spiddal area of Connemara over “boil water” notices and subsequent “do not consume” warnings.

Minister of State Thomas Byrne on Wednesday said the authority has a duty to properly inform the public and provide people and their local representatives with a lot more information when issues of water quality and safety arise.

He was speaking in the Dáil in response to concerns raised by Independent Galway West TD Catherine Connolly about Inishbofin and Inis Oírr and the failure of the water authority to communicate with consumers and explain the issues.

She also said that Cois Fharraige in the Connemara area, with more than 5,000 people, was also without water.

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Last week Minister of State Malcolm Noonan, who has responsibility for water services, also expressed concern about the authority’s communication skills following complaints about Irish Water’s response to islanders. Mr Noonan stressed that “it is very important that as soon as an issue arises, that it is communicated effectively to local communities”.

Both Ministers said the problem was linked to excessive levels of manganese in the water.

The Aran island was issued with a “boil water” notice in August, but no explanation was given, Ms Connolly said. Irish Water on September 2nd announced the boil notice continued to apply because water quality in nearby lakes continued to deteriorate because water levels were so low.

But the following day the authority issued the 156 islanders with a “do not consume” warning, without explaining why, she said. Islanders were given the all-clear for their water on Tuesday but the warning is still in place on Inishbofin, she added. “What is wrong with the system,” she asked and “when will it be put right?”

She said the maximum amount of information had to be given to consumers “so that we can have trust in the system”. Ms Connolly said she had no trust in the system.

Mr Byrne said a “do not consume” notice was issued to Inishbofin on September 10th because of elevated levels of manganese, and on September 16th for An Spidéal public water supply and Inis Oírr public water supply. He said some 5,676 consumers in the Spiddal area were affected, along with 156 on Inishbofin and 257 on Inis Oírr.

He said Irish Water was working with Galway County Council to resolve the issue, and he would ask the authority to provide much more information to local people, businesses and their political representatives. Thanking consumers and businesses for their patience, he said he hoped that it would be sorted out shortly, with a return of safe drinking water, “but only when the HSE and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) are satisfied”.

Last week Sinn Féin Galway West TD Mairead Farrelly and Ms Connolly raised the issues during debate on technical legislation to separate Irish Water from its parent company Ervia. Under the Bill the water authority will in future be known as Uisce Éireann.

Ms Farrell claimed that Irish Water was three weeks late telling people on Inishbofin about the issue “so people were drinking water that was not fit for consumption”. She added that “islanders have told me that they have found it impossible to get any information from the company”.

Mr Noonan said communication “is critically important” in dealing with such issues, and the delay in doing so highlighted the need to communicate with local communities effectively as soon as an issue arises.