BOTTLED WATER for cooking and drinking was delivered to 70 homes in Dundalk yesterday as high levels of lead were found in parts of the public water supply.
The council is also ready to replace lead service pipes in public areas and local authority housing, depending on results from the next set of tests. Testing of water has been ongoing in Co Louth since the first high levels were found two weeks ago. All the results are on the council's website, which identifies the problem areas - all in pre-1970 buildings.
The council yesterday confirmed that a second round of tests in Dundalk had shown that "of 68 properties now tested twice, 18 samples have indicated breaches in the limit".
The council was advised by the HSE that the people in the 18 homes and any other homes on the same service pipes should not drink tap water or use it to prepare food. The council's director of services, Eamonn Walsh, confirmed the high results were found after the pipes were flushed or allowed to run for some time.
He said while 18 tests had come back with levels over the limit of 25 microgrammes per litre, "there are in fact approximately 70 properties sharing lead service pipes causing the problem". The council is providing bottled water for free to the affected properties and advises householders to call 1890 924 665 for advice about their water supply.
More tests have been taken and those results are expected tomorrow.