Boil water notices are finally lifted from Roscommon

For the first time in five years, thousands of householders in Co Roscommon can now safely consume their own tap water.

The country’s longest-running boil notice, which affected the Castlerea area, was imposed in 2010

for health and safety reasons.

The Killeglan area had been on boil notice since 2013 after an outbreak of cryptosporidium, a diarrhoea-causing parasite.

Yesterday, Irish Water confirmed the notices, affecting 11,300 people, had been lifted following inspections at the Castlerea and Killeglan water treatment plants.

While a separate boil notice affecting 6,000 people in the Boyle area was lifted in May, roughly 5,400 others remain affected .

As part of a €26.8m investment, Irish Water said they hoped to lift these notices by the end of the year. “Dealing with the boil water notices endured by thousands of customers in Roscommon has been a top priority,” said Irish Water managing director John Tierney.

Benny O’Connell, who owns Benny’s Deli in Castlerea, said he is overjoyed with the news, which is “great for local businesses and residents”.

Around two years ago, he paid €1,000 for a water filtration system for his deli as a result of all the boil notices.

“It was a hard call to make because money was scarce,” he said. “We had to buy it though because there was no end in sight to the boil notices. Now that we have it, we’ll continue to use it as an extra measure.”

Environment Minister Alan Kelly welcomed the news and praised the efforts of Irish Water. “This now means that over 17,000 people can drink their water in Roscommon this year that couldn’t last year,” he said.

“I have no doubt that similar successes will be replicated throughout the country.”

Independent councillor Nigel Dineen said the people of Castlerea are “delighted” while Fianna Fáil councillor Paschal Fitzmaurice said it was a very positive step.

“It’s the people of Ireland who have provided the funding, through their taxation on water, so it’s the people who should really take the praise for this,” he said.