Councillors call for clearer communication and bottled water supplies as around 9,000 people in the East Cork town remain affected
A boil water notice covering the Youghal Regional Public Water Supply has left thousands of people in Cork boiling their tap water before use, with local councillors saying they have not been given a timeline for when it will be lifted.
Uisce Éireann issued the notice on Friday, 23 October, citing “elevated turbidity in the raw water” that had affected treatment at the town’s water treatment plant. The utility said the notice was applied following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE). All consumers on the Youghal supply were advised to boil their water before drinking it.
When asked about a timeline, Uisce Éireann said it did not know when the notice would be lifted. It said it would continue to liaise with the HSE “with a view to lifting the boil water notice as soon as practicable.”
Concerns about communication
The lack of information was the central complaint raised at this week’s meeting of Cork County Council. Independent Cllr Mary Linehan Foley said she had not received an update from Uisce Éireann since the first email went out on the Friday morning. She said many residents had contacted her after finding no drinking water available in shops across the area.
Cllr Ann-Marie Ahern, Fianna Fáil, said the communication to residents was sent hours after the notice had taken effect, meaning many people had already used the water without knowing it was under a boil water notice. Cllr Patrick Mulcahy said that by the time the notice was released on Friday evening, there were at least three to four hours of water use already recorded.
Cllr Ahern also pointed to a wider problem in the area. Between Midleton and Youghal, she said, bottled water supplies were already short because of repeated boil water notices, with a separate notice in place over the weekend in Mogeely and Castlemartyr. She put the number of people affected at more than 10,000.
Why it matters for households
For a family in Youghal, a boil water notice means every glass of water, every bottle for a child and every cup of tea needs to be boiled first. Councillors have argued that the bigger strain falls on households with infants, older residents and people with health conditions, who depend on a reliable water supply and clear guidance.
Cllr Linehan Foley asked whether Uisce Éireann could supply bottled water to affected residents if it cannot give a timeline for the notice to be lifted. Mulcahy warned that the town, with around 9,000 people and a limited number of shops, needed urgent support from the utility.
What residents should do now
Until the notice is lifted, residents should follow the official instructions issued by Uisce Éireann and the HSE. Water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, preparing baby formula and brushing teeth should be boiled first. Uisce Éireann has previously advised that water should reach a rolling boil for one minute and then be cooled before use. Anyone with questions can contact the Uisce Éireann customer care helpline on 1800 278 278.
The situation is a reminder of how quickly a routine treatment issue can become a daily disruption for a whole community. Local representatives have said they will keep pressing for updates until the notice is lifted.
Source: Independent.ie, “Cork Town on Boil Water Notice With Bottled Water in Short Supply, Councillors Warn,” 28 October 2026: https://www.independent.ie/county/cork/cork-town-on-boil-water-notice-with-bottled-water-in-short-supply-councillors-warn/a/163681019.html
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