Many people around the country are experiencing restricted or cut off supplies of water, and the HSE would like to offer the following public health advice to those in affected areas.

• Emergency water supplies are being provided in some affected areas. People are being asked to bring their own containers for water collection. It is important to ensure your water container is clean before it is filled.
• As a precautionary measure, you are advised to boil this water before use (this applies to both drinking water and water used for food preparation).
• All water for drinking and food preparation should be brought to the boil and then allowed to cool before using. Please remember that boiling water can carry a risk of scalding accidents. It is advisable to use a kettle rather than pots and pans. If you must use open containers such as pots and pans, then special care should be taken around young children or vulnerable people. Keep panhandles turned inwards where children / other vulnerable people cannot reach them.
• Boiled water (subsequently cooled) or bottled water may be used for brushing teeth, washing food, cooking and making ice.

Hand washing

People should ensure that they wash their hands frequently; if no tap water is available, they should use the water supply from water tankers in designated areas, bottled water, hand wipes or sanitizers.

Bottle feeding for babies

In preparing formula feeds for infants / babies, it is advisable to use water from one of the water tankers in the designated areas, or bottled water brought to a 'rolling' boil and left covered to cool for no more than half an hour. Then follow the manufacturer's instructions on making up the feed.

Use cooled boiled water or bottled water for cooling the feed once it has been made up. Ready-to-feed liquid formula may be used instead.

All bottled water should comply with all drinking water standards and will be safe to use in preparing baby feed. If you are using bottled water for preparing baby food, be aware that some natural mineral water may have high sodium content. Look at the label for sodium or `Na' and check its level is not higher than 200mg per litre. If the content is higher, 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.

Bathing

If tap water is not available for bathing infants, boiled and cooled tanker water or bottled water are safe alternatives. Another safe alternative to bathing is to use baby wipes for hand cleansing and washing infants.

Similar advice applies to older children and adults.

Toilet flushing

The public are advised to conserve water where possible. It is not necessary to flush the toilet after urination. If there is no water for flushing toilets, other recycled water may be used e.g. water left over after washing, rainwater etc.

Contact lenses

Tap water or tanker water should never be used for cleaning or storing contact lenses since this could cause a rare, but serious, eye infection.

Schools /Childcare Settings

While Schools are currently closed, childcare facilities in affected areas that do not have water for drinking, washing or sanitation must arrange for alternative provisions to be in place to ensure public health is not at risk.

Private water supplies

If your water is sourced from a private supply such as a well, then check that it has not been affected by flood waters. If the private well has been covered by flood water, if the water changes colour, taste or smell, or, if you believe the supply has been affected by the flood, assume the water is unsafe to drink unless boiled or sourced elsewhere.

This page will be updated as required, so please check back again soon.