Limerick County Council Issues Drinking Water Notice For Bruff

Jan. 14, 2008 - PRLog -- The Water Services Authority issued the notice, on the advice of the Health Services Executive (HSE), after low levels of lead were detected in water supplies in some town centre premises.

The areas of the town affected by the notice are Main Street, from the Bake House to The Top Shop; and the Hospital Road, from Main Street to O’Leary’s Coalyard.  Two helplines, 061-496326 (9.30-4.30) and 061-419226 (after hours), have been set up to advise members of the public in the affected areas.
Mr. Donal Brennan, Senior Engineer, Water Services, confirmed that levels of lead in water had been detected in two premises on Main Street, while two other premises tested well below the permissible limits for lead.

“Water Service Authorities undertake lead testing as part of their overall annual testing programme.  The main reason for lead occurrence in water is generally due to the use of lead piping within a premises or a lead service connection from a house to a watermain”, explained Mr. Brennan.

He continued, “Council staff, who will be carrying appropriate ID, will be conducting further tests on the water in Bruff this week.  Limerick County Council is offering to test the water for any premises in the above affected area for traces of lead.  The turnaround time for samples will be seven to ten days.”

“In the meantime, however, we ask people in the affected area not to drink water from the main supply while they should also ensure that ice cubes in fridges and freezers are discarded.  We would also ask the public to inform the County Council of elderly or disabled residents, who may require special assistance”, added Mr. Brennan.

“Limerick County Council is currently out to tender for a new watermain in Bruff.  The tender is being amended in the light of the most recent results to include for the replacement of any lead service pipes from the watermain to the stopcock (boundary box) at each affected premises in Main Street”, concluded Mr. Brennan.

A further water notice will be issued in due course.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:
-    For further information please call Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com.
-    Further information on Limerick County Council is available from www.lcc.ie.
-    BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The current maximum allowable concentration for lead in drinking water is 25µg/l (25 micrograms per litre or 25 parts per billion).  This standard is set by Irish Legislation and follows the EU regulations.  The World Health Organisation (WHO) standard for lead in water supplies in 1971 was 100 µg/l and this was reduced to 50 µg/l in 1984.  The current Irish standard is 25 µg/l and there are plans to reduce this limit to 10 µg/l in 2013.


Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
IRELAND
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-(0)868534900 (Mobile)
00353-(0)656839692 (Fax)

Website: www.dunphypr.com