Psychiatric hospital hit by e.Coli bug

A Co Cork psychiatric hospital has been forced to replace its water treatment system after traces of the e.Coli bacteria were found, it emerged today.

The potentially fatal bug was detected at St Stephen’s Hospital in Glanmire last Friday and a boiled water notice was immediately put in place by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The treatment system, which also serves 16 private houses, was yesterday replaced and while no illnesses have been reported, testing of the water will continue for the next fortnight, the HSE confirmed.

This comes in the same month that traces of the bacteria were found in water supplies in the Swords area of Dublin and in Kerry.

“A boiled water notice is in place since last Friday after the Health Service Executive received confirmation that e.Coli had been detected in the hospital’s internal water treatment system,” a HSE spokesman said.

“The HSE took immediate action to notify all units in the hospital and hand delivered notices to the 16 private residences that receive their water from the hospital’s supply.

“The hospital is strictly adhering to the advice of the HSE’s Environmental Health Department to use bottled water and boiled water where necessary.

“To date, there have been no cases of illness linked to the e.Coli find.

“The entire water treatment system on the grounds of the hospital has been replaced yesterday and the HSE will do continuous testing of the water supply over the next fortnight,” he said.

St Stephen’s caters for 151 patients and the HSE has apologised for the disruption caused by the outbreak.

It warned those affected that water must be boiled for drinking, preparing food and washing teeth, but was safe to use for bathing.

This is the third outbreak of the bacteria in the country’s water supplies this month.

Tankers supplied drinking water to residents in the Knocksedan Estate, Swords, late last week after a public alert was issued to residents following the discovery of the bug in the area’s water.

Residents of some 160 houses were advised not to use tap water for brushing teeth, preparing food or bathing children.

The issue came to light when residents reported discoloration of their tap water on August 7 and Fingal County Council said the boil notice remains in place pending the outcome of further tests.

Boil water notices were lifted last week in Glenbeigh, Co Kerry, where the water supply also tested positive for e.Coli.

Latest figures from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show 98.9% of public water supplies comply with e.Coli standards compared to 77.5% of private supplies.

According to the EPA’s 2005 water quality report, 36% of private water schemes were contaminated with e.Coli at least once during that year.