Homeowners in east Cork have been issued with a boil water notice by Irish Water after an increase in cloudiness due to a rise in flood materials in the water source following recent heavy rain.
Irish Water issued the boil water notice to some 10,000 homes served by the Watergate Regional Water supply on foot of HSE advice.
Affected areas include Aghada, Ballycotton, Ballinacurra, Churchtown, Cloyne, Trabolgan and Whitegate, as well as the southern side of Midleton and nearby areas.
The HSE advised the issuing of the boil water notice due to high turbidity – an increase in the amount of particulates – in the Dower spring source.
The increase in turbidity follows continuous heavy rains in east Cork and all water used for drinking, food preparation, teeth brushing and ice must be boiled, said Irish Water.
Water can be used as normal for washing and flushing toilets. Further information, including a map and advice, is available from Irish Water on water.ie or on 1890 278 278.
The main Cork to Waterford road remained closed on Friday due to flooding as continuous heavy rain lashing the South kept water table levels high and prevented drainage into fields and farm land.
According to Midleton gardaí, the N25 between Cork and Waterford remained closed between Castlemartyr and Killeagh villages due to heaving flooding. However gardaí and Cork County Council were continuing to monitor the situation and local diversions were put in place via Mogeely village north of the main national primary road.
In Cork city, gardaí and Cork City Council are liaising closely with the ESB as the agency continues to discharge water at a rate of 250 cubic metres per second from the Inniscarra Dam on the River Lee.
Capacity
The ESB upped discharge rates to 250 cubic metres per second on Wednesday morning to create capacity in the Inniscarra reservoir in anticipation of heavy rain from Storms Frank and Gertrude.
In west Cork, the clean-up operation was continuing in Bandon town where more than 60 premises and residences were flooded on Wednesday. However, levels in the area have subsided and the N71, which had been closed on Wednesday between Bandon and Innishannon, stayed open on Friday.
In north Cork, the R666 between Fermoy and Ballyduff was closed on Friday after a landslide between Geaneys Cross and Stable Cross.
