About 4,500 households in Clonmel, Co Tipperary are to receive hand-delivered notices this morning warning them to boil all drinking water, writes John Downes.
An emergency meeting of Clonmel Borough Council last night discussed the results of Health Service Executive water samples which revealed elevated levels of the cryptosporidium parasite in the Glenary water supply that serves much of the town.
It is believed that the source of the contamination may be sheep and wild animal droppings which entered the water supply following recent heavy rains. A statement from the Environmental Protection Agency said the Clonmel drinking water plant served a population of 11,500 people.
Speaking after the council meeting, the mayor of Clonmel, Cllr Richie Molloy, said the decision had been taken to issue the "boil water" notice as a precautionary measure.
The warning is expected to remain in place for a minimum of six weeks, as works to upgrade the Glenary treatment plant are expected to take four to five weeks to complete. No cases of illness connected with the presence of the parasite in Clonmel's water supply have been reported.
People with impaired immune systems, young children and the elderly are more susceptible to the parasite, which can lead infected patients to develop diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fatigue, vomiting and low grade fever.
Galway city has had a "boil water" alert in place since mid-March in response to the detection of unseasonably high levels of the cryptosporidium parasite. Of 238 reported cases, just under 50 had to go to hospital.
Two years ago, Ennis's local water supply was hit by a series of boil notices after cryptosporidium was found in the water supply in June 2005. A partial precautionary boil notice remains in place for vulnerable members of the community.
Clonmel households and businesses will have to boil all drinking water, including water used in the preparation of salads and similar foods which are not cooked prior to eating.
A spokesman for the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, said he had been informed of the situation in Clonmel. While the introduction of a "boil water" notice in any area was unfortunate, it was preferable that it be introduced at an early stage, the Minister said.
Clonmel Council said people with queries could telephone a freephone number 1800 271 777.