Released on: January 14, 2008, 9:28 am

Press Release Author: Mark Dunphy/Dunphy PR

Industry: Consumer Services

Press Release Summary: County Limerick, 14th January 2008 - Limerick County Council
today advised residents of Main Street and Hospital Road, Bruff not to drink water
from the main public supply until further notice.

Press Release Body: The Water Services Authority issued the notice, on the advice of
the Health Services Executive (HSE), after low levels of lead were detected in water
supplies in some town centre premises.

The areas of the town affected by the notice are Main Street, from the Bake House to
The Top Shop; and the Hospital Road, from Main Street to O'Leary's Coalyard. Two
helplines, 061-496326 (9.30-4.30) and 061-419226 (after hours), have been set up to
advise members of the public in the affected areas.
Mr. Donal Brennan, Senior Engineer, Water Services, confirmed that levels of lead in
water had been detected in two premises on Main Street, while two other premises
tested well below the permissible limits for lead.

"Water Service Authorities undertake lead testing as part of their overall annual
testing programme. The main reason for lead occurrence in water is generally due to
the use of lead piping within a premises or a lead service connection from a house
to a watermain", explained Mr. Brennan.

He continued, "Council staff, who will be carrying appropriate ID, will be
conducting further tests on the water in Bruff this week. Limerick County Council
is offering to test the water for any premises in the above affected area for traces
of lead. The turnaround time for samples will be seven to ten days."

"In the meantime, however, we ask people in the affected area not to drink water
from the main supply while they should also ensure that ice cubes in fridges and
freezers are discarded. We would also ask the public to inform the County Council
of elderly or disabled residents, who may require special assistance", added Mr.
Brennan.

"Limerick County Council is currently out to tender for a new watermain in Bruff.
The tender is being amended in the light of the most recent results to include for
the replacement of any lead service pipes from the watermain to the stopcock
(boundary box) at each affected premises in Main Street", concluded Mr. Brennan.

A further water notice will be issued in due course.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:
- For further information please call Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on
086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com.
- Further information on Limerick County Council is available from www.lcc.ie.
- BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The current maximum allowable concentration for lead in
drinking water is 25µg/l (25 micrograms per litre or 25 parts per billion). This
standard is set by Irish Legislation and follows the EU regulations. The World
Health Organisation (WHO) standard for lead in water supplies in 1971 was 100 µg/l
and this was reduced to 50 µg/l in 1984. The current Irish standard is 25 µg/l and
there are plans to reduce this limit to 10 µg/l in 2013.

Web Site: http://www.dunphypr.com

Contact Details: Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
Connolly
Ennis
County Clare
IRELAND
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-(0)868534900 (Mobile)
00353-(0)656839692 (Fax)