Dont Drink the Water

Started by Square Ball, April 14, 2009, 12:49:27 PM

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Square Ball

Water alert 'could last all day'

A water safety alert affecting about 220,000 households across Northern Ireland could last all day, officials have warned.

People in Greater Belfast and parts of counties Antrim and Down have been asked to boil cooking and drinking water in case it is contaminated.

NI Water issued a warning on Monday after a potential problem was spotted at Dunore Point treatment plant.

David Dangerfield from the company said it was a precautionary measure.

"We take thousands of water quality samples and one of the samples that was reported to us yesterday suggested there may be a problem with the treatment process," he said.

The specific affected by the problem areas include Antrim, Ballyclare, Ballymena, Belfast, Broughshane, Carnlough, Carryduff, Castlereagh, Crumlin, Dundonald, Dunmurry, Glenarm, Glenavy, Holywood, Kells, Newtownabbey, Randalstown, Templepatrick, and Toomebridge.

NI Water said tests would continue until samples returned to normal.

It said customers would be notified as soon as their water could be used without boiling.

Helpline

Customers can get further information and advice by calling the Waterline on 08457 440088.

In a statement, the Northern Ireland Public Health Agency advised people affected by the alert to boil water and allow it to cool before drinking it, using it to prepare salads, fruit or vegetables that will not be cooked, brush teeth or use it in any other direct way.

Dr Richard Smithson, consultant in Communicable Disease Control, said: "It should be emphasised that the risk to public health is very low, but until the situation is resolved, the boil water advice should be followed."

NI Water is conducting further tests of the water supply and with the Public Health Agency, will advise the public when it is no longer necessary to boil water.

Hospitals are not equipped to treat stupid

Maguire01

Very poor communication of this. Just heard about it 30 minutes ago. If the water is contaminated, the notice is probably too late for most.

Square Ball

Quote from: Maguire01 on April 14, 2009, 12:52:32 PM
Very poor communication of this. Just heard about it 30 minutes ago. If the water is contaminated, the notice is probably too late for most.

same here Maguire, way after we had our breakfast and brushed our teeth
Hospitals are not equipped to treat stupid

Square Ball

Just watched the news and they ended it with "Tune into Newsline later on and we will give you advice on boiling your water"

Ummm, wonder what they will tell us, cant wait
Hospitals are not equipped to treat stupid

Archie Mitchell

Just drink beer instead  :D

On a serious note, shocking how they took a while to release this info. Water in Belfast isn't the best at any time, I always filter mine for drinking.