Wicklow uranium find sees water cut off

Hundreds of homes in Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, were without water this morning after the Environmental Protection Agency discovered…

Hundreds of homes in Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, were without water this morning after the Environmental Protection Agency discovered Uranium 238 in a well.

The County Council ordered the shutdown of the Lathaleere well after uranium levels three times above World Health Organisation safety limits were found.

A council spokesman said they had taken the action on advice from the South Western Health Board.

He said there were 600 households in the Baltinglass area, of which 100 were affected. They all had access to fresh water from alternative means, including water tankers supplied by the council, he said.

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Uranium 238 is a naturally occurring stable isotope of uranium that decays to release radon gas, which can be carcinogenic.