The bacteria E-coli has been detected in the water supply to the Old Mill housing estate in Ratoath, Co Meath. Meath County Council has taken samples from the supply to two other private developments as a precautionary measure. The supply to all the estates involved is provided by private bore holes and not the council.
E-coli coliforms and faecal coliforms were found in a water sample from the Old Mill supply taken by the council last Tuesday. Householders were circulated with a notice advising them that the mains water supply was not fit for human consumption and should not be used for drinking, food preparation or washing.
The council has provided water tankers to the estate. It will take samples from the bore holes providing water to Meadowbank Hill and Fairyhouse Lodge estates as they are adjacent to the Old Mill supply. They have also been provided with water from tankers. Last night a council spokesman said work would start today on connecting the Old Mill system to the east Meath water supply.
The Conroy family said they were concerned about the risks. Mr Paul Conroy said: "This is obviously a serious issue as can be seen by Meath County Council's decision to have it connected." His wife Harriet said she had an upset stomach last week and their 10-year-old son was sick over Christmas. However, the local medical centre could not confirm any increase in digestive complaints.
Last night the chairman of Ratoath Community Centre, Mr Nick Killian, said: "All the locals want to be connected to the east Meath water supply. The village has developed so quickly in recent years that the physical infrastructure was not capable of supplying water, so both the developers and the council then had to manage the supplies."
Meath County Council said the results of tests on the supply to the other estates in the village would be known later today.