Wednesday 28 March 2007

Galway Hotels Safeguard against Contaminated Water
IHF Moves to Reassure Visitors

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) today reiterated its assurance to visitors travelling to Galway that hotels in the area have put in place strict safety measures to safeguard against contaminated drinking water supplies in Galway City and parts of Galway County(1). The IHF stated that it is continuing to work closely with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and local authorities to ensure effective measures are in place by hotels to safeguard against contaminated water supplies.

John Power, Chief Executive, IHF, stated, “Members of the IHF have been issued with guidelines for the use of water by hotels in the Galway area. Galway hotels have measures in place whereby boiled and bottled water supplies are available to all guests in the interests of safety. We are continuing to liaise closely with the HSE on an on-going basis and are confident that measures in place by our members will effectively address concerns around the use of water in hotels.”

The following guidelines have been issued to IHF members in the affected areas (1) -

• All drinking water should be bottled or water that has been boiled.

• Notices should be put in bathrooms to inform guests that the water may be contaminated. They should be advised that, even when washing teeth boiled or bottled water should be used.

• In relation to food preparation, the following safeguards should be taken;

  Boiled water should be used to wash salads, fruit, vegetables or any other food that is not going to undergo further heat treatment prior to being served to guests

  Water used to dilute fruit juices or for any other purposes where it would be consumed, should either be bottled or boiled water.

• Ice cubes made prior to the boil water notice should be discarded. Make ice cubes with cooled boiled water, bottled water or sodas.

• It is safe to wash and take a bath - the route of infection is by swallowing the water. Please advise guests and children not to swallow shower/tap water.

(1) A map indicating areas affected by contaminated water supplies can be accessed on the HSE’s website - http://www.hse.ie

ENDS

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:

Eoin Quinn / Siobhan Molloy Tel: 01 6760168
Weber Shandwick FCC 087 2332191 / 086 8175066