Monday, November 30, 2009

Caution Advised As Flood Waters Recede In County Limerick

Limerick County Council has welcomed the decision of the ESB to reduce the level of discharges from Parteen Weir.

The local authority stated that while water levels along the Lower River Shannon have receded by 7-10 cm (3-4 inches) since Saturday morning, members of the public are being advised to exercise caution in relation to areas which have been flooded.

ADVICE:
According to Donal Brennan, Senior Engineer, Limerick Council: “All flood water near properties must be treated as being potentially contaminated by sewage. River banks may also have been eroded and persons should avoid walking near flooded river banks. Meanwhile, flood waters may have lifted manholes on roads and may present hazards to pedestrians and motorists.”

Mr. Brennan noted that caution should also be exercised when working on flooded properties.

When entering a property after a flood, always take the following precautions:
- Assume all power lines are live. Check that the power in the property is off before you do anything
- Check for the smell of gas and make sure the lines are turned off
- When entering a room look at the ceiling for any signs of cracks or bulges. Wet plaster is very heavy and can pose a threat to the structure of the property
- Be careful when moving any debris and seek help in moving heavy or unstable items that could trap or crush you
- Be careful when moving around inside the property, standing water can hide a lot of hazards
- Move slowly and carefully when moving around a flooded building
- Remember rat’s urine can cause Weil's disease, so take care not to expose yourself to any water that you believe has been exposed to rats
- Standing water can be a breeding place for micro-organisms which can be released into the air when the water is disturbed. These can be a health hazard if inhaled. Remove all items from the water as soon as possible and wear a protective mask if asthmatic or if you have chest problems.
- Remember that water can be contaminated. Wash your hands with disinfectant if they come into contact with floodwater or silt debris

Further advice is available on www.flooding.ie and www.hse.ie. The relevant website links are also available from Limerick County Council’s website www.lcc.ie.

CLOSURE OF PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE:
Limerick County Council has today closed the pedestrian bridge at Castleconnell arising from concerns over the safety of the bridge structure. The Council has reminded members of the public to respect all road and bridge closure notices that have been erected throughout County Limerick.

BOIL NOTICE:
Meanwhile, a precautionary boil notice affecting approximately 2,000 customers of the South West Regional Water Supply and Feahanagh/Castlemahon Group Water Scheme in County Limerick will remain in place until the middle of next week at least.

Limerick County Council, following consultation with the Health Service Executive, has confirmed that 700 households are affected by the public water notice in areas including Broadford, Dromcolligher, Feohanagh/Castlemahon, Mountplummer, Kilmeedy, Feenagh and surrounding areas. The notice was issued on Friday night after the Council’s Water Services section detected a deterioration in water quality in the South West Regional Water Supply.

Further information for customers in the affected areas is available from www.lcc.ie. Advice is also available from (061) 496326 (9.30am - 4.30pm Monday - Friday) and (061) 419226/ (087) 6295167 (outside of office hours).