Wicklow County Council has advised its residents in Aughrim not to drink tap water in the wake of a chemical spill that led to the death of up to 2,000 fish on the Aughrim River, the Irish Independent reported.
Last week, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) reported an investigation into fish mortalities along a 3km stretch of the Aughrim River near Coats Bridge. The incident claimed numerous species of fish, including juvenile and adult Atlantic salmon, trout, and lamprey.
Initially, IFI could not identify the source of the harmful event but confirmed that water samples had been collected for analysis.
With concerns over impacts on public health growing in the Aughrim community, the Wicklow County Council confirmed that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified the spill’s origin in the vicinity of Aughrim village.
The council’s statement indicated that the proximity of the spill to the river raised contamination risks for the local water supply.
In response, a precautionary non-use water notice was issued to residents in the affected area.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) plans to retest the water supply this week to ensure safety before lifting the advisory.