Limerick County Council tonight warned householders to boil drinking water before use, following severe flooding in some parts of the county last night.
The council said the public water notice affects hundreds of customers in Newcastle West and surrounding areas.
The council said some 93mm of rainfall, equivalent to a month’s rain, was recorded near Newcastle West over a five-hour period late last night and early this morning.
The areas affected by the boil notice include Newcastle West, Coolcappagh and Rathcahill, as well as the Ballyine, Dually, Reens Kilscannell, Old Mill Road, Killoughteen and Killeline group water supply schemes.
Assistant director of services with Limerick County Council Donal Brennan Limerick County Council said: ‘Due to the recent extraordinary flooding, the production of water at the Newcastle West water treatment plant is severely restricted. Limerick County Council is currently taking all steps to re-commence full production at the plant. The water in the service reservoirs, which was produced before the flooding, is almost exhausted.”
“As the water services authority for County Limerick, we wish to advise members of the public that water being supplied from now until further notice should not be used for human consumption except under a number of conditions and for certain purposes.”
All water for drinking, brushing teeth and food preparation should be boiled and allowed to cool. Ice cubes in freezers should be discarded, the council said. Baby feeds should be prepared with water that has been boiled once and cooled.
The chairman of Limerick County Council has praised the response of the emergency services to what he called this morning’s “freak flooding incident”.
John Gallahue praised the response of Limerick County Council, Limerick Civil Defence, the Valentia Coast Guard, Limerick County Fire and Rescue, the ESB, the HSE, An Gardai Siochana and other emergency services.
“Thankfully no lives were lost during the incident, which is one of the most serious to have taken place in County Limerick for many years.”