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Contaminated water scare
in Muff
23.09.08
Boil water notice
remains in force after bacterial contamination of
public water supply
by Damian Dowds, Inishowen
Independent
A BOIL notice remained in force in Muff last night
as the water services division of Donegal County
Council and the HSE attempted to address a problem
with the public water supply.
The notice came into force on Thursday last when
analysis found higher than permitted levels of
bacterial contamination in the drinking water supply
from Drumhaggart Reservoir. Donegal County Council
immediately issued the warning notice through both
Inishowen Community Radio and Highland Radio, and
hand delivered notices to householders and
businesses in the village.
Consumers were warned not to use the water for
drinking, cooking or brushing teeth and advised to
boil all water before consumption.
The Council yesterday said that tests carried out in
the area last Friday and Saturday turned up clear
for contaminants.
Further tests were carried out in the area yesterday
and the results of those are expected today. “At
that stage, the Council will continue to consult
with the HSE towards the early lifting of the
Boiling Notice,” a council spokeswoman said
yesterday. |
Local primary school
principal Teresa Ward complimented the Council on
its efficient handling of the situation. “We
received the boil notice and circulated it with
every child in the school,” she said. “We advised
parents to send bottled water to school with the
children and it worked out well for us.”
However, one local resident was |
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critical of how the
notice was distributed. “The letters weren’t
delivered until after 4.30pm on Thursday evening,
and then not all homes received them,” she said.
“The helpline listed in the letter was incorrect,
when I called it the people there didn’t have any
information whatsoever and I was given two other
numbers to try.”
The resident said that local reports of illness or
stomach upsets were slight. “There were a few cases
of stomach cramps and diarrhoea locally, but nothing
serious enough to warrant medical attention.”
The Drumhaggart Reservoir supplies water in an area
from the Rock Bar into Muff village and as far as
Diver’s Builders’ Providers on the Moville Road. |
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