AMMONIA AND nitrate levels in water supplies near icy roads gritted with chemical fertiliser are well within safe levels, the Emergency Co-ordination Response Committee has said.
In its daily briefing yesterday, the committee also said demand for water was coming closer to normal levels but still exceeded supply.
Water was tested in north and south Tipperary, Kildare, south Dublin, Carlow and Meath after the six local authorities used urea, an agricultural fertiliser, to replace the salt component in grit on icy roads last weekend.
The results received showed no increase on previous results, the committee said.
Gerry Galvin of the Department of the Environment said if the chemicals were present in drinking water they would have been detected by now.
Mr Galvin also highlighted the continuing severe water shortage in Dublin and many other parts of the country.
Local councils across the country reduced pressure again last night to help reservoirs recover from a 20 per cent surge in demand. The spike was caused by burst pipes, low water flow as a result of frozen ground and householders leaving taps running for prolonged periods.
Mr Galvin said as demand reached normal levels, reservoirs would return to normal and water pressures would be restored, which would make leaks easier to locate. He renewed the committee’s plea to preserve water.
Normal daytime water supply has returned to Cork city, although night restrictions remain in operation.
However, many areas of Dublin continue to be severely affected.
These included Killiney, Foxrock, Dalkey, Glasthule, Stillorgan, Leopardstown, Walkinstown and Irishtown on the south side, and Santry, Marino, Finglas, Coolock, Artane, Raheny, Lanesborough, Melville and upland areas of Howth on the north side.
Some relief was seen yesterday in the northeast of the city when a 30,000-litre Guinness truck arrived. However, those who thought they were getting a supplement of the black stuff were to disappointed. The truck had been retro-fitted to carry water from the brewery’s reserves to supply the Cadbury’s factory in Coolock and local residents.
Meanwhile, Met Éireann has said rain over the weekend could result in spot flooding when it is combined with thawing snow in some parts of the country. Areas most at risk are Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and parts of Tipperary.
While road conditions across the country have improved considerably in recent days, AA Roadwatch is advising motorists to drive with care due to “possible lingering ice” and potholes.
Spokeswoman Nicola Hudson said the freezing temperatures had left the country’s roads “littered with potholes, some of which are a foot deep”.
In Co Tipperary, the N24 route between Cahir and Clonmel is so badly damaged the council has placed temporary traffic lights in several parts. Similarly, the N11 north of Ferns in Co Wexford is described as particularly bad.