Northern Ireland Water Alert.
Quote:
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.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7997537.stmI drink bottled water anyway :8
