Two-year wait for clean water

Thousands of households are facing a further two years of having to boil their tap water before safely using it.

Irish Water has said the situation is “entirely unacceptable” and insists dealing with the problem is now a priority.

Over 1,000 people in the Williamstown area of Co Galway have been unable to use their water without boiling it since October when traces of cryptosporidium were found in the public supply.

The parasite can cause stomach upset, fever, and diarrhoea.

The very young and the elderly are most at risk.

Irish Water said it needs to decommission the Williamstown Water Treatment plant and connect the village and surrounding area to the Lough Mask Treatment plant in Co Mayo.

Lough Mask supplies the Ballyhaunis public supply 20km away and it is planned to extend the existing pipeline to Williamstown.

The extension work has yet to go to tender and the company admits that the job will not be finished until the end of next year.