LOCAL AUTHORITIES in Sligo and Meath were yesterday delivering drinking water in tankers to some areas after the recent flooding caused concern about the public water supply.
Sligo County Council put in place a precautionary boil water notice in parts of the county after exceptionally heavy rainfall, particularly in the locality of Kilsellagh reservoir.
The areas affected are Rosses Point, Kiltycahill and northern parts of Sligo town.
"It is expected that the problem will be resolved in the coming days," the authority said in a statement.
Tankers will supply water to the affected areas and locations and times of the deliveries will be posted on the council's website and broadcast on local radio.
"All test results to date have shown negative for microbiological contamination and this testing regime will remain in place until the discoloration problem - which gave rise to the precautionary boil notice - has abated."
About 4,000 people connected to the Athboy and Moynalty water supplies in Co Meath were also urged to boil water due to concerns about the effects of flooding.
The council said chlorine levels were back to normal where the water supplies have been tested, but it hoped to have the results of microbiological tests early today.
"If they are clear, then we hope to lift the boil notices and restore supply by the afternoon," a spokesman for Meath County Council said.
The council also warned that the road between Walterstown and Skryne, between the N2 and N3, would be closed for repairs after severe damage due to torrential rain last week. The road has been closed since Friday.
"There is unbelievable damage to the road, our engineers are saying they have never seen anything like it," the council spokesman said.
"There is a detour in place and we are hoping to get it open by Tuesday or Wednesday of next week."
Cork County Council also confirmed an intermittent problem with the water supply in parts of Mallow town in recent days.
"The higher areas of Mallow town were affected over a period of four days," a spokeswoman said. "It was due to the high level of rainfall or run-off from river tributaries. There's a system that sets off if there is a threat to water quality. It was purely a precautionary measure, there was no issue regarding drinking water."
In Laois, flood water began to recede after problems in recent days but the local authority said the damage caused to some roads as a result of rainfall was "serious" and would have to be addressed.
Senior engineer Michael O'Hora said the flooding situation was improving yesterday.
"There was a lot of flood water present, particularly in fields, but slowly and surely they are receding. There are no properties under threat and any that were are well defended."
Mr O'Hora said a number of minor road closures were still in place but "nothing significant".
However, there had been a minor landslide on the Abbeyleix to Carlow road (R430) due to the levels and intensity of rain. "It's only a small landslip, but it's frightening in that it could be a lot worse and they are serious issues."
Other road closures were in place in Tipperary. The Ballyheen road, off the Templemore to Borrisoleigh road (R501), partially collapsed and is closed until further notice. The Fethard to Urlingford road (R689) was also closed at Ballynunty after a bridge collapsed, AA Roadwatch said.
Met Éireann says rain in the southwest today will spread eastwards to affect much of Leinster and Munster. The rain will be "persistent and heavy" at times across southern counties but it will be brighter elsewhere with showers.
Some 8,000 homes and business were still without a phone service last night after lines were damaged by floods at the weekend.
Almost 3,000 lines were repaired by Eircom engineers yesterday but a company spokesman said fault reports were coming in as quickly as they were being cleared. Customers in north Dublin were particularly affected. Eircom said it would be a few days before all lines are repaired.