Numbers affected by long-term boil water notices doubled by year's end

Of the 17 long-term boil water notices in place at the end of last year, 10 were long-term, affecting just over 16,000 people - more than double the 7,029 figure at the end of the previous quarter.

Irish Water’s performance watchdog has expressed concern at the number of long-term boil water notices which are affecting thousands of consumers nationwide.

The Water Advisory Body (WAB) has also flagged a significant slowing of progress in the replacement of lead service connections and a general decline in the number of leak repairs completed under Irish Water’s ‘first fix’ scheme since mid-2016.