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Lake Inchiquin in Co Clare, the source of the public water alert. Bob Jones via Wikimedia

1,800 people in Co Clare have been warned not to drink their water

“Algal bloom” at Lake Inchiquin is causing the trouble.

A PUBLIC WATER alert has been issued by the HSE, Irish Water and Clare Co Council, for 1,800 residents in Co Clare.

Customers of the Corofin and Ruan Public Water Supply have been warned that their water is not suitable for drinking, showering or brushing their teeth, due to the presence of “algal bloom” in the supply at Inchiquin Lake.

In a joint statement this afternoon, the three agencies have explained the restrictions, which they say are likely to remain in place until Monday at the earliest:

The algal bloom has arisen due to the extended period of dry weather, elevated temperatures and reduced water levels in the lake.
Water customers in Corofin town and its environs and in Ruan village, as well as customers of the Killeen Group Scheme Supply are affected by the alert.

Affected residents are advised that water should only be used to flush toilets or for internal house plumbing and laundry, and that they should throw out ice cubes from their freezers.

According to the statement, works will be continuing over the weekend to try and connected water customers to an alternative water supply.

For now, though, drinking water tankers are in place from today until Monday, at the following locations:

  • Outside Bofey Quinns pub, Corofin
  • St Patrick’s Community Hall, Gort Road, Corofin
  • Opposite Kerry Agri at the Ennistymon Junction, Corofin
  • Grotto in Corofin town
  • Adjacent to the Dalcassion pub in Ruan village

Members of the public are advised to bring their own containers and boil all water from the tankers before consumption.

For updates on the public water alert, affected residents can consult www.water.ie, or call the Irish Water Customer Contact Centre on 1890-278-278.

Residents are also asked to inform Irish Water or Clare Co Council about an elderly or disabled people who may need special assistance.

Clare Co Council has also warned residents not to bathe in Lake Inchiquin, and local farmers are instructed not to allow their animals to drink from it.

Read: Drinking water alert issued in Clare by HSE, county council>

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23 Comments
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    Mute Glen
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    Aug 15th 2014, 5:35 PM

    And they want to charge people for this sewer smelling fluoridated slop they call water ……

    140
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    Mute Bren O'Connell ت
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    Aug 15th 2014, 5:38 PM

    Ballygowan slop.

    46
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    Mute Antonov Merinov
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    Aug 15th 2014, 7:06 PM

    What is it with this country and it’s water supply❓
    I am glad that I have my own well.
    I would feel very aggrieved if I was asked to pay for this service.

    44
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    Mute Alison Te Hira Mee
    Favourite Alison Te Hira Mee
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    Aug 16th 2014, 3:43 AM

    I’m not being facetious but wouldn’t the idea that once people are paying for the service, then the government can afford to pay for repairs and decent pipes etc? I live in Sydney and pay for water and I’ve no issue with that. Now if the water supply went to sh*it , i would then have an issue paying but if I wasn’t paying, why would I expect to get it for free? I know this won’t go down well but please someone explain why people expect to get water service for free??

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    Mute Joan Dolan
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    Aug 16th 2014, 9:26 AM

    I think the problem is though Alison, that this is another bill coming into people’s houses after a few years of reductions in people’s wages, people having lost their jobs, reduction in payments such as childrens allowance, social welfare payments and the introduction of property tax and people arent sure how much more they can take to survive. Also, we were told the property tax was going into our local area and would be used to benefit our area but we cant get so much as a zebra crossing or lollipop lady for our schools without being told by the council we would have to fund raise for it ourselves. In an ideal world, water rates revenue should pay for rusty pipes to be fixed and a better service but I guarantee you in 12, 24 or even 60 months time, warnings such as these will still be issued by the councils that the water is not adequate for consumption.

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    Mute FollowMe❤ #FreeMeers
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    Aug 16th 2014, 9:35 AM

    It’s not the paying for a service we have an issue with. It’s paying it to a private company who have a monopoly and therefore will charge us what they like. We are being forced into this, and the water supply is not up to scratch and they will not improve it. This is how they work here in Ireland. The government is no better at all- look at what they did to the M50 tolls. In essence, we are fed up of having less than no money when we pay high taxes already.

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    Mute Celticspirit321
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    Aug 15th 2014, 6:23 PM

    What the government hasn’t realised is that when people pay for a service and that service isn’t up to scratch, the 3 Rs come into play. Repair, replace or refund. If they keep dishing out piss, legally, we don’t have to pay a cent

    79
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    Mute Dublinjonny
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    Aug 15th 2014, 5:46 PM

    Don’t worry Co.Clare sure as soon as the water meters are in you can now have the luxury and benefit of paying for piss water

    66
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    Mute Alanearls
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    Aug 15th 2014, 7:04 PM

    My mum lives in Clare, she hasn’t been able to use tap water for years, they gave her a nice shiny new meter recently though, I wonder does it make the water that passes through it better quality

    44
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    Mute Fergal Kelly
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    Aug 15th 2014, 5:45 PM

    Hang on now, how exactly do they stop algal bloom?? It’s nature ffs

    43
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    Mute Alan O'connor
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    Aug 15th 2014, 5:53 PM

    Jesus don’t introduce facts into an argument on the journal. You’ll be vilified forever!!!

    49
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    Mute Mahon Slattery
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    Aug 15th 2014, 7:03 PM

    Algal blooms are usually caused by nutrient pollution by nitrogen, phosphates from agriculture, intensive animal farming fertilisers and household cleaning products. Climate change is also thought to encourage their progression. Not nature.

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    Mute David Geraghty
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    Aug 15th 2014, 10:32 PM

    Nature? As in farmers polluting de gaff nature?

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    Mute Kevin f
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    Aug 15th 2014, 8:18 PM

    All the summers as a child and teenager spent having fun on this lake…. Hours each day… Peeing in it all the time like everyone else……. I wonder has this led to the onset of this fungal problem????

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    Mute Adrian Beakey
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    Aug 15th 2014, 10:58 PM

    Played on the lake during my child hood and pissed in it as well.
    And the summers were better back then .
    With no bloom on the lake ???? None that we were told about anyway.
    I am still drinking the water because it did not kill us back then and it won’t kill us now.

    5
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    Mute Alan McLoughlin
    Favourite Alan McLoughlin
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    Aug 16th 2014, 1:02 AM

    Corofin is my home town. It has only recently had the water filtration and treatment system upgraded/renewed. The issue lies with irresponsible farming practices, and I would ask anyone who spots a farmer spreading slurry during heavy rain to report this to the EPA immediately to prevent further algal bloom from appearing.

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    Mute Alan McLoughlin
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    Aug 16th 2014, 1:06 AM

    The regional office is based in Limerick and you can call them on:
    061-224764

    5
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    Mute spuds mcgoo
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    Aug 15th 2014, 9:31 PM

    You can’t even shower with the stuff??? That’s just shocking

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    Mute Brian Troy
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    Aug 15th 2014, 11:25 PM

    What happened to the earlier article about floride costing each taxpayer a million Euro a week or some tripe. Where is the apology?

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    Mute pad mul
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    Aug 16th 2014, 12:09 AM

    tho has pretty much become an annual thing. every August, for as long as I can remember; these notices have been issued.

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    Mute Caroline aMarie
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    Aug 16th 2014, 6:14 PM

    Another way or having the water changes justified.BOO.

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    Mute Caroline aMarie
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    Aug 17th 2014, 9:30 PM

    Sorry typo.I meant water CHARGE.

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    Mute Brehon Law
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    Aug 16th 2014, 8:26 AM

    Same thing is happening in lakes in the US – check out GreenPartnerNews for more info if interested

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