THOUSANDS of people will be hit with water disruptions - with a warning that over 100,000 houses could be impacted by services issues.

Uisce Eireann has said water will need to be boiled for drinking, food prep, making ice or diluted rinks and brushing teeth.

Water chiefs issued the warning of potential disruption in Waterford due to strike action by members of the Unite trade union.

The dispute between the Unite Trade Union and 11 Local Authorities will mean water service in Waterford will be affected.

Unite is seeking a commitment that water staff transferring from local authorities to Uisce Eireann will retain their public service status.

The utility said that the precautionary boil water notices have been put in place in parts of Waterford starting Tuesday, midnight.  

Some 164,205 people in Waterford City, Tramore, Dunmore East, Passage East, Crooke, Faithlegg, Cheekpoint, Stradbally, Ballylaneen, Kill, Bonmahon, Kilmeaden/Butlerstown, Ballyduff and surrounding areas may be affected.

Uisce Eireann took to Twitter to warn the public.

They said: “Precautionary Boil Water Notices will come into effect on Tuesday at 12 midnight (00.01 Wed), to protect the health of approximately 164,205 customers supplied by Adamstown, Stradbally and Ballylaneen Water Treatment Plants.”

The firm said their primary focus is and always will be the protection of public health.

And due to the strike action, they have taken steps to protect public health by imposing Boil Water Notices on these schemes.

It is also warning of potential disruption to water services, in particular, the speed at which bursts to the water network are repaired in some other local authority areas affected by the strike action.

Uisce Eireann’s Regional Operations Manager Jim Fitzgerald said: “This dispute is not with Uisce Éireann and outside our control.

“However, it will regrettably impact Uisce Éireann customers.

'PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH'

“We have stood up our incident management team and are working closely with management in the local authorities to ensure that contingency plans are in place to minimise and manage disruptions to water and wastewater services.

“To protect public health, we will have to put a number of areas on Boil Water Notices from midnight Tuesday, 1 August. It is essential that customers follow this advice and boil their water.”

People are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled.

Customers can check if their property is included by visiting  www.water.ie

reference: https://www.thesun.ie/news/11103126/uisce-eireann-water-disruptions-boil-notice-waterford/