The Christmas break has contributed to a health alarm in part of the Connemara Gaeltacht, where a community of up to 2,000 people has been told its drinking water was unfit for human consumption over the holiday period.
Mr Gearoid de Faoite, manager of Comharchumann Shailearna Teo in Inverin, has confirmed that some 70 households did not know about the negative results until more than a fortnight after testing was conducted by Galway County Council.
The results form part of regular monthly testing of the scheme by the local authority.
The sample taken on December 16th under European Communities (Quality of Water Intended for Human Consumption) Regulations 1988 was for the Knock/Inverin area, which is one of the largest group water schemes in the State.
It showed the presence of E.coli, indicating recent faecal pollution in Loch Nualla, from which households draw their supply. E.coli derives from animal manure which can be washed into waterways by heavy rainfall.
However, the results were faxed to the co-operative's office only on December 30th, after it had closed for the Christmas break.
A spokesman for Galway County Council told The Irish Times that all relevant people had been notified on December 30th, and had been advised that water should be boiled. Three further tests indicated that the supply was currently healthy.
The pollution had been "exceptional", as this scheme had been perfect throughout 1997, the local authority said, and there had been no reports of ill-health. The Western Health Board also said yesterday that there had been no major health scare.
Mr de Faoite acknowledged that the occurrence was probably exceptional, after a period of heavy rainfall.
The level of contamination was quite low and there had been no reports of illness. One part of the scheme was not affected at all, he said. However, he was concerned at the lack of immediate contact, as he was constantly available by mobile phone.
Work has already started on the Spiddal-Rossaveal regional trunk water scheme, which will take in the area around Knock/Inverin.
