Farmers have called for clarity from Uisce Éireann following the contamination of a public water supply in north Kerry.

On October 7, Uisce Éireann issued a "Do Not Consume" notice for 3,527 customers supplied by the Ballyheigue Public Water Supply "to protect public health".

Uisce Éireann has said that the water is not safe to drink even if it is boiled.

However, it said the water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing, flushing toilets, laundry and washing of utensils.

"Extensive testing and monitoring are continuing, alongside active investigations of the spring source and the wider network to identify and address the source of the issue," a spokesperson for Uisce Éireann said.

Alternative water supplies have been put in place in five locations to assist the public, with the water replenished every 48 hours.

"The Do Not Consume Notice will remain in place until Uisce Éireann, in consultation with the HSE, is satisfied that the water is safe to consume.

"We understand how concerning and disruptive this is for customers, families and the wider community, and our teams continue to work around the clock to address the issue," the spokesperson added.

Farmers

Jason Fleming, chair of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) in Kerry, told Agriland that he has been contacted by farmers in the area who are "very concerned" about the situation.

"I think it's very important especially from a human consumption point of view that we know the salt levels that's in the water there.

"We've asked for it and we haven't got it up to today and we're waiting to see what kind of levels we're talking about.

"From a farming perspective, it is something similar. The last couple of days have been dry.

"Animals drink a lot of water on a daily basis, especially dairy stock, and I think it's very important that we get this sorted out," he said.

The Kerry IFA chair advised farmers to be vigilant and keep a close eye on their animals for any sign of illness.

He appealed to politicians in the county to "work together" with Uisce Éireann in order to find a resolution to the issue as soon as possible.

Uisce Éireann told Agriland that "farmers with concerns regarding livestock during the notice should consult their veterinary practitioner".

"For pets, bottled water or water from an alternative source is recommended until the notice is lifted," they added.

Water

Irish Rural Link (IRL) has also raised concerns about the impact of the water supply outage on local residents, particularly older people and vulnerable households.

Emergency water collection points have been set up by Uisce Éireann to assist affected households.

However, Irish Rural Link is concerned that access to collection points may not be possible for all residents, particularly those living alone, people with mobility difficulties, individuals with disabilities and households without access to private transport or support networks.

Irish Rural Link is calling on Uisce Éireann to prioritise the direct delivery of emergency water supplies to the homes of Meals on Wheels customers and other elderly and vulnerable citizens.

The group has donated 500 litres of readily available water to assist local residents affected by the outage.

The organisation also said the needs of the local farming community must be recognised as part of the emergency response and called for practical arrangements to be put in place to ensure livestock have access to sufficient water.