Thousands without clean drinking water as another storm looms

As another Atlantic storm bears down on the country today threatening to bring flooding in its wake, tens of thousands of homes could face days without clean drinking water thanks to the 170km/h storms that battered Ireland on Wednesday.

Last night, it emerged that in Cork alone, the water supply in up to 80 parts of the county may be contaminated and Irish Water and Cork County Council cannot say when a boil notice will be lifted.

Limerick County Council was also forced to order a widespread boil water notice as a precaution, though by last night it had managed to guarantee a clean supply to a number of areas.