When would we issue a Boil Water Notice?

The most common reason for issuing a Boil Water Notice would be where routine testing of the drinking water supply has shown the presence of harmful bacteria (such as E. coli), or pathogens such as Cryptosporidium. The public health of our customers is of the utmost importance to Irish Water – therefore if such results are confirmed, we consult with the HSE to ensure an appropriate advisory notice is issued immediately.

In some cases a Boil Water Notice may be imposed where there is a risk of contamination but where test results are yet to be confirmed. An example might include where the disinfection system has failed, or where a pollution event has occurred in the vicinity of the source water. In these cases it is prudent to protect public health by issuing a Boil Water Notice rather than wait for test results to confirm the risk.

In these cases boiling the drinking water and cooling it will kill any harmful bacteria that may be present making it safe to drink.