RESTRICTIONS ON the consumption of tap water in up to 1,400 houses in the Clontarf area of Dublin will remain in place over the weekend, Dublin City Council said yesterday.
The council is continuing investigations to establish the cause of bacterial contamination that one week ago made the water unsafe for residents to drink.
Engineers are focusing their investigation on the southeast of the affected area at Castle Avenue and the surrounding streets and will be listening to the ground at night to try to establish if there are any leaks in pipes that could be contributing to the problem.
While the rest of the area is showing test results clear of bacteria, the council is advising people in all 1,400 households to continue to boil water before drinking it, cooking with it or using it to brush their teeth.
However, the council said it was safe to use water directly from taps for bathing, washing dishes and doing laundry.
The problem arose last Thursday when routine testing by the council's central laboratory indicated high levels of bacteria in 16 houses. Further sampling later indicated the contamination might have spread to 1,400 houses. Tests have ruled out the presence of E.coli or metals such as lead and there have been no reports of ill-health as a result of drinking the water.
The initial advice was to not consume tap water but, following further tests and discussion with the Health Service Executive, the council said boiled water was safe to use.
A council spokesman apologised for the inconvenience and thanked residents for their courtesy and support for tanker crews and water service staff as they work to resolve the problem.
Council water tankers will be on site between 9am and 6pm today and tomorrow at Kincora Avenue and the Howth Road.
