– Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Irish Water and Cavan County Council can confirm that the Do Not Consume Notice impacting customers supplied by Belturbet Public Water Supply has been lifted with immediate effect and the water is safe to drink. The notice was issued to protect approximately 1,986 customers following elevated levels of manganese in the water supply.

Kevin Smith, Regional Operations Lead with Irish Water said: “Irish Water acknowledges and understands the impact this Do Not Consume Notice had on the community of Belturbet and we sincerely regret the inconvenience. Our drinking water compliance and operational experts worked hard to resolve this issue as quickly and as safely as possible and we endeavoured to keep stakeholders updated at every stage of the process. We are grateful to the media, elected representatives and members of the public who shared the information. We would also like to thank Cavan County Council and HSE for their input and support throughout the process.”

All consumers on the Belturbet Public Water Supply can now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth.

Irish Water and the Local Authority/Health Service Executive Water Liaison Group will continue to meet and will review ongoing process control, monitoring and testing of the drinking water supply.

If customers have any queries regarding this Do Not Consume Notice and the lifting of it they should contact Irish Water directly on our customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278.Irish Water continues to work at this time with our Local Authority partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of both staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of critical drinking water and wastewater services. Irish Water would like to remind people to follow the HSE COVID-19 advice and ensure frequent handwashing.

ENDS 15/09/2021