A boil water notice for almost 10,000 Irish Water customers in Co Offaly has been lifted after the discovery of bacteria commonly associated with faeces.
Irish Water gave the notice last Wednesday after the discovery of E coli and total coliforms during testing of the Birr, Banagher and Dunkerrin public supplies.
Following consultation with the HSE, the notice has been removed with immediate effect.
Local TD Carol Nolan of Sinn Féin said there was "general panic" as word spread on social media on Wednesday night.
“No time is the right time, but particularly during the tourism season, it is absolutely putting businesses on the back foot,” she said.
Mrs Nolan wasn't aware of the source of the pollution or any ongoing works on the water infrastructure in the locality. She said: "I am very concerned like a lot of people, this shouldn't happen."