Water boil notice in tourist spot to be lifted

A WATER boil notice in place in a north Clare village should be lifted by the end of this month, the local authority said yesterday.

Difficulties with the water supply in the Burren coastal village of Ballyvaughan have plagued homes and businesses there since last June.

Norrie Gill, of the well-known restaurant, Monks said: “The boil notice is a huge problem in the area.

“It is really distressing. It is disruptive towards business and businesses have already to deal with the economic recession.”

Ms Gill said that Monks was already having to buy in ice and boil vegetables as directed under the notice.

The boil notice affecting 700 people in the Ballyvaughan area, which depends mainly on tourism for its revenues, has been in place since the end of last year.

Councillor Martin Conway (Fine Gael) said: “Ballyvaughan’s water supply problems should have been dealt with a long time ago. The situation is most unsatisfactory. The people of Ballyvaughan are entitled to safe water the same as everyone else. This issue needs to be expedited as soon as possible.”

A Clare County Council spokesman said: “The current boil notice which has remained in place since the end of 2010, is being retained as a result of concerns following contamination of the existing Newtown supply. This decision was made in consultation with the HSE having regard to the associated risks.”

The spokesman said the village’s supply will change from a local supply to a regional supply this week.

“We will need a further two to four weeks to officially complete the sign-off with the contractor.

“In addition we need to consult again with the HSE before initiating removal of the ‘boil notice’. However, we are confident that this will happen by the end of the month,” the spokesman added.