RESIDENTS OF up to 1,400 houses in north Dublin have been warned not to drink their tap water due to the detection of high levels of bacteria in the system.
Dublin City Council has issued a “major alert” to the homes and properties in Clontarf area of the city, warning them not to use their water for drinking or cooking.
A spokeswoman for the council stressed this was not a “boil notice” as the water is not rendered safe by boiling, and should not be consumed.
The problem arose last Thursday when routine testing by the central laboratory indicated high levels of bacteria in 16 houses in the area. Further sampling following work to correct the problem in these houses indicated that the contamination may have spread to up to 1,400 houses.
Executive city manager Tom Leahy said the “flushing work” undertaken on the 16 houses may have dispersed the problem over a wider area.
“This is a problem in just one of the city’s 220 water supply areas . We are currently carrying out flushing and rechlorination of the mains and there is no evidence that the problem has spread.”
Tests on the water had ruled out E.coli, Mr Leahy said. The council is working with the HSE and there have been no reports of ill health as a result of drinking the water. Further tests will be carried out this afternoon Mr Leahy said.
Leaflets have been distributed to all affected properties and water tankers have been stationed on Castle Avenue at the Kincora Avenue junction and St Lawrence Road at the Howth Road junction. A mobile tanker is in operation.
