Residents in parts of Co Clare are being advised not to drink tap water after a warning was put in place due to increased manganese levels in the local water supply.
Clare County Council, the HSE and Irish Water issued an alert last night advising customers of the Kildysart Public and Coolmeen Group Water schemes not to drink tap water until further notice.
Around 1,500 households are affected by the alert and have been advised to boil water from tankers.
Water tankers will be at the Kildysart Secondary School and outside the Hilltop Bar in Coolmeen from 10am.
Manganese, a mineral that naturally occurs in rocks and soil, can be identified by its discoloured (brownish-red) colour in tap water. It also causes staining on plumbing and has an off-taste or odour.
Exposure to high levels of manganese over a period of time can lead to toxicity of the nervous system, however this is a rare occurrence according to the World Health Organisation. Parents of young children and babies are advised to take extra precautions to ensure their children do not drink tap water with high levels of manganese.
Customers can visit www.water.ie or contact the Irish Water Customer Contact Centre on 1890 278278 for further information.