Water Advisory Board highlights high numbers affected by boil water notices

A number of areas in East Cork have been regularly served with boil water notices over the last few years, including the recent Christmas period. Picture: iStock

An independent body monitoring the state of water infrastructure  has "noted with concern" the thousands of people on boil notices – despite Irish Water insisting the increase is down to better testing of local supplies.

The Water Advisory Board (WAB) said 7,029 people were on boil water notices at the end of June, which is an increase of 1,344 people compared to the end of last March.