The Aran island of Inis Meáin has been hit with a new water crisis. Tests carried out over the past week show that the group water scheme on the island is "heavily contaminated".
The tests were carried out by the Western Health Board and Galway County Council following reports that people had become ill during the recent water shortage on the island. The "shortage" was alleviated when it was noticed that valves on two relief holding tanks had not been switched on.
The results of the tests show that the supply contained more than 201 coliforms per 100 ml of water and 130 e.coli per 100 ml. World Health Organisation guidelines on drinking water quality published in 1984 say the level should be zero for both.
The island, with a population of 190, has had continuous problems with water supply over recent years as it is dependent on groundwater. A new desalination plant was expected to alleviate the problem for this summer but efforts to commission the plant this month proved unsuccessful when seaweed choked up the intake pipe. The plant has been installed at a cost of just over €2 million, with the support of the EU, the Department of the Environment, Galway County Council and Údarás na Gaeltachta. A controversial wind farm was built on the island to help fund it.
Last week, the manager of the island co-op, Cllr Pól Ó Foighil, denied that the water supply was contaminated and said results had proved positive in recent tests. Yesterday, Mr Ó Foighil could not be contacted and the Western Health Board said it had advised the co-op, as manager of the group water scheme, to take action.
A spokeswoman for the health board confirmed that e.coli was detected on the island last year, but it was a much lower amount, at three e.coli per 100 ml.
Islanders have been drinking bottled water but concern was expressed about the lack of warning notices for visitors. One tourist operator on the island confirmed that about 50 visitors had been ill in the past three weeks.
The health board said notification was a matter for Galway County Council. Efforts to contact the council proved unsuccessful.