A boil water notice has been issued for numerous areas in Dublin and Wicklow following a mechanical error at the Vartry Water Treatment Plant. 

A chlorine booster failure at the plant, which serves over 65,000 people, means that adequate chlorine may not have been reached in order to ensure that the water is safe to drink. 

Irish Water and Wicklow County Council released the boil water notice today at 3pm, following advice from the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The areas affected are: 

Ashford, Newcastle including Newcastle Hospital., Newtownmountkennedy, Kilcoole, Kilquade, Kilpedder, Kilmacanogue including Glenview Hotel/Kilmurray Cottages, Greystones, Cookstown Road, Fassaroe/Berryfield Lane, Kilcroney, Delgany and Bray.

There are also rural areas between Callowhill and Cronroe which are affected including: Killiskey, Nuns Cross, Coynes Cross, Prospect, Mount John, Timmore Lane, Dunran.

The following areas in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown are also included: Corke Abbey, Woodbrook Glen, Old Connaught Avenue, Thornhill Road, Ballyman Road, Ferndale Road from its junction with Old Connaught Avenue to Allies River Road, The Dublin Road from the junction of Old Connaught Avenue to Allies River Road, and all areas off these roads.

Water must be boiled for:

• Drinking
• Drinks made with water
• Preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating
• Brushing of teeth
• Making of ice - discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges. Make ice from cooled boiled water.

What actions should be taken:

• Use water prepared for drinking when preparing foods that will not be cooked (e.g. washing salads)
• Water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets but not for brushing teeth or gargling
• Boil water by bringing to a vigorous, rolling boil (e.g. with an automatic kettle) and allow to cool. Cover and store in a refrigerator or cold place. Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink. Domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink
• Caution should be taken when bathing children to ensure that they do not swallow the bathing water
• Prepare infant feeds with water that has been brought to the boil once and cooled. Do not use water that has been re-boiled several times. If bottled water is used for the preparation of infant feeds it should be boiled once and cooled. If you are using bottled water for preparing baby food, be aware that some natural mineral water may have high sodium content. The legal limit for sodium in drinking water is 200mg per litre. Check the label on the bottled water to make sure the sodium or `Na' is not greater than 200mg per litre. If it is, then it is advisable to use a different type of bottled water. If no other water is available, then use this water for as short a time as possible. It is important to keep babies hydrated.
• Great care should be taken with boiled water to avoid burns and scalds as accidents can easily happen, especially with children.

Irish Water said in a statement: "Irish Water will liaise with the HSE with a view to having the Boil Water Notice removed as soon as possible.

"Irish Water are carrying out chlorine dosing on the supply today and have put in place a water sampling programme to test the chlorine levels in the impacted areas.

"In the meantime, all customers of this supply are advised to boil water before use until further notice.

"Irish Water apologises for the inconvenience caused by the imposition of the boil water notice.

"We will continue to work closely with Wicklow County Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown and Dublin City Council who run the plant on behalf of Irish Water and the HSE to monitor the supply and lift the notice as quickly as possible.

"For more information and additional advice, please call our 24-hour customer care line at 1850 278 278."

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