A number of residents of properties on the Sligo Road, Enniskillen are being urged to boil their water before use after a water pipe was damaged during works carried out in the area earlier this week.

On the evening of Monday, July 4, a water pipe was damaged by a SGN Natural Gas contractor during standard works which were taking place on the Sligo Road near the junction at Derrylin Road.

This resulted in a number of residents of the area being left without water.

A spokesperson for SGN Natural Gas said: "NI Water were immediately contacted and arrived on site and supply was restored by the following morning. As is standard protocol, samples were taken, and a temporary [Boil Water Notice]was issued by NI Water.”

If a water company issues a Boil Water Notice, this means that their routine water quality tests have revealed the presence of some bacteria in the water supply.

A Boil Water Notice means you must boil your tap water before you drink it, or before you use it to brush your teeth, make ice cubes, prepare food, clean feeding equipment or give it to your pets.

The spokesperson concluded: “Further guidance will be provided by NI Water once available.”

Responding to The Impartial Reporter NI Water confirmed that the temporary ‘Boil Water Notice’ on a number of properties on the Sligo Road, Enniskillen is still in place.

All properties impacted will have received a card through their door.

Dymphna Gallagher, Head of Drinking Water Regulation said: “Our number one priority is the quality and safety of your drinking water. Our policy is to err on the side of caution if we believe there might be a risk to your water supply.

"Therefore, until we are fully satisfied the water quality has returned to normal, we would ask customers to follow the advice to boil their water for drinking and cooking. The water can be used for washing, bathing and flushing toilets.

“The boil notice will remain until further testing shows samples have returned to normal. While we appreciate this will cause major inconvenience, it is important households follow the instruction to boil water before use.”

A postcode search facility to identify specific customers affected is available on the NI Water website www.niwater.com

Customers will be notified as soon as their water can be used without boiling for drinking or cooking. Regular updates will be provided to customers through our website, niwater.com, and social media channels.

NI Water is working in full co-operation with the Public Health Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate for Northern Ireland.

 

Posting to her social media channels this afternoon (Thursday, July 7), Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Jemma Dolan said: "I have been reliably informed by NI Water that the boil water notice which was implemented on a number of properties on the Sligo Road, Enniskillen will continue until tomorrow, [Friday, July 8].

"NI Water staff are currently delivering the letter below [shown] to the affected areas, so only if you receive this does it apply to your property."