The notice is in place for over 600,000 people in Ireland.
Tens of thousands of homes and business in parts of Dublin, Kildare, and Meath are still under a boil notice, which was implemented on Monday this week, and is the second boil notice to arrive in the last two weeks.
The boil notice is said to affect approximately 615,000 people in those counties, and recent heavy rain has caused additional problems for the Leixlip Water Treatment Plant in Kildare.
As a result of the boil notice remaining in place, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) will be performing on audit of the plant, in an effort to assist in lifting the boil notice.
The EPA will be joined by the HSE and the Fingal County Council.
Speaking in advance of the audit, the General Manager of Irish Water Eamon Gallen said, “Irish Water understand and appreciate that this Boil Water Notice is having a significant impact on homes and businesses.
“We have been in on-going discussions with the EPA and the HSE regarding the criteria to lift the Boil Water Notice. The main priority for everyone is the protection of human health. The EPA will audit the plant tomorrow and Irish Water and Fingal County Council staff will be on site to provide whatever information or support the EPA require. The HSE will also be present.
“We are pleased that we have had the results of two water samples and both of these have been satisfactory. The EPA and HSE may include these satisfactory samples in their audit, but we will be bound by their requirements in this matter.
“Boil Water Notices are imposed and lifted in consultation with the HSE, supported by the EPA, and Irish Water are working closely with both parties on this matter. It is essential that we are able to give the public confidence in their water supply which is why we must be absolutely certain that public health is protected. Production has been increased in other plants serving the Greater Dublin Area to reduce the pressure on Leixlip.
“Irish Water have additional staff at the Leixlip Treatment Plant now to assist and support staff from Fingal County Council. Working together the engineers are looking at ways to optimise the operation of the old Leixlip plant, making it more resilient at times of adverse weather and throughout the period of the refurbishment of the old filters.”
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