Waterford City Council confirmed this morning that they have received the latest round of results from a targeted programme of water testing which has identified excess levels of lead in the public water supply to households in a second part of the city.
The area where an issue has arisen includes the ‘Top of the Town’ areas of Keanes Road, Marian Park, Oznam St, Cathal Brugha St, Military Road, Morrisons Road, St Cartages Avenue, Blakes Lane, Presentation Row and Slievekeale Road.
Also impacted are Congress Place, Tycor Ave, Griffith Place, Ard Na Greine, Cannon Street, Luke Wadding St, Sexton St, Leamy St, the Upper Yellow Road and the older part of Ferrybank, Rockenham and Marymount.
Those living in houses built prior to 1970 in the area involved will receive detailed advice leaflets from the City Council today.
Householders in the area affected are being advised by the Council and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to let their cold tap run off a sink full of water which should be discarded before water is poured for human consumption. This is especially important first thing in the morning and when water has not run through the taps for six hours or more.
Home owners in the Tycor Avenue area are advised to run their water for five minutes after higher exceedances were found in their supply.
Colette Byrne, Director of Services, Waterford City Council says: “We are continuing to investigate the cause of the breaches of the lead/water limit of 25 microgrammes per litre. While we are doing this and until such a time as we can take further corrective action, we are urging householders in the area involved to take the precautions advised by the HSE.
“Since last Friday the treatment plant at Adamstown has increased the PH level of the water in Adamstown. The effect of same will be feeding through the water supply and the city council is today repeating the water tests to see if the lead exceedances have reduced.
“We will also provide up-dates through local media and online at www.waterfordcity.ie. Waterford City Council continues to work closely with both the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the HSE regarding advice in relation to any human health issues,” Ms Byrne added.
Householders using bottled water for making infant formula are advised ensure that this water labelled as ‘Natural Mineral Water’ and is certified as having a sodium content of less than 20 mg per litre.
Exactly a week ago householders out the Newtown/Dunmore Road as far as Glenville and from Johnstown via John’s Hill, Grange Park, Passage Road and back to the Dunmore Road received a similar notice. This notice still applies.
Members of the public are assured that, outside of the particular areas where excess lead content has been reported, there is no reason for general concern about water quality in the city and the issue around lead does not arise from the treatment plant but rather from the lead service pipes through which the water travels closer to homes.
Also see: Pregnant women, children most at risk from lead in water
