250,000 NI households advised to boil their water

blueberrypie

250,000 NI households advised to boil their water

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7997537.stm

Northern Ireland Water has advised nearly 250,000 households across Northern Ireland to boil their cooking and drinking water.

The company issued the warning on Monday after a potential problem was identified with the water quality at Dunore Point treatment plant.

It is affecting about 220,000 properties in the Greater Belfast area and parts of counties Antrim and Down.

Not that there's any info on the NI Water website, so if you want more info you have to phone them - and only an 0845 number given *bah*

(I've checked saynoto0870 - nothing for NI Water there, or for the 0845 number they've provided.)

I'm assuming this also means I shouldn't use the water and ice from my fridge's dispenser, because although it's filtered, it comes from the cold-water supply. Grrrrr.

wifeforlife

0845 numbers are local rate numbers, there should be no extra charge for calling it from a landline

Also on their website it does give local numbers but unfortunately they are for rivers agency or roads service which being NICS are all closed today

On their website it also tells you where is affected

Approximately 220,000 properties are affected. The specific areas include Antrim, Ballyclare, Ballymena, Belfast, Broughshane, Carnlough, Carryduff, Castlereagh, Crumlin, Dundonald, Dunmurry, Glenarm, Glenavy, Holywood, Kells, Newtownabbey, Randalstown, Templepatrick, and Toomebridge

NI Water is advising customers, as a precautionary measure, to boil water for cooking and drinking (bringing water to the boil is sufficient).

I don't know why anyone would need to call them, surely this is enough information to go on.

I definately would not use water from your fridge or any ice made from this water.

You also can click into a link with further information on their website link

HTH

Cate

blueberrypie

cathy2702 wrote: »

0845 numbers are local rate numbers, there should be no extra charge for calling it from a landline

0845 numbers are *not* local-rate - they are "lo-call" numbers. They are not included in most "free calls" packages, either on landlines or on mobiles.

See http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/0870-say-no

0845 'Lo-Call'. Can cost up to 7p/min

Don't confuse Lo-Call with local; numbers starting 0845 aren't cheap and again, unless you're on BT, aren't included in ‘free calls' packages. Sadly many small businesses actually pay to have these numbers, misled by old promises that they “look more professional and attract custom”, without realising that these days their customers have to pay more.

Quick Costs (daytime): BT 5p, Talk Talk 5p, Virgin 7p, Sky 6p

Also on their website it does give local numbers but unfortunately they are for rivers agency or roads service which being NICS are all closed today

On their website it also tells you where is affected

There was nothing at all on the NI Water website when I checked before starting this thread. Now there is a brief notice, which says it *includes* certain areas - but it does not say this is a full list, and the area I live in is between the areas listed but is not listed in itself.

I don't know why anyone would need to call them, surely this is enough information to go on.

Well I'd quite like to know for sure whether my area is affected. I think it's likely, but there isn't any info on the BBC or NI Water websites to tell me.

You also can click into a link with further information on their website link

There's very little info on their website - just what the BBC link gives. There is a "more" link on it, but that opens a pdf which gives no extra information at all.

I repeat: Bah.

ballyblack

Thanks again 'blueberry pie' on exposing the 0845 not-so-cheap number con :mad:

wifeforlife

blueberrypie wrote: »

0845 numbers are *not* local-rate - they are "lo-call" numbers. They are not included in most "free calls" packages, either on landlines or on mobiles.

See http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/0870-say-no

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There was nothing at all on the NI Water website when I checked before starting this thread. Now there is a brief notice, which says it *includes* certain areas - but it does not say this is a full list, and the area I live in is between the areas listed but is not listed in itself.



Well I'd quite like to know for sure whether my area is affected. I think it's likely, but there isn't any info on the BBC or NI Water websites to tell me.



There's very little info on their website - just what the BBC link gives. There is a "more" link on it, but that opens a pdf which gives no extra information at all.

I repeat: Bah.

Your a tad grumpy today then!! I think there is sufficient information covered!

Boil your water if your inbetween the area's named, or don't!

My telephone provider has 0845 numbers included in free calls, and the service I work for that uses an 0845 number, is charged at local rate, again as you have done I can only quote the information available to me at the time

NI Water provide more information, whether it opens in pdf format is irrelvant it's extra information, unfortunately it's just not the information you want.

Call them then and find out exactly what you need to know, what I was suggesting was that not everyone will need to call to get specific's. If your in the area's or surrounding area's of those named, surely it's only common sense to follow the precautions listed.

Cate

blueberrypie

cathy2702 wrote: »

Your a tad grumpy today then!! I think there is sufficient information covered!

Boil your water if your inbetween the area's named, or don't!

I think it's reasonable to be critical when there is inadequate information given on something that might (or might not) be a health issue, from an organisation which is charged with providing such an essential service.

Is that "grumpy"?

My telephone provider has 0845 numbers included in free calls,

Can I ask which provider that is?

and the service I work for that uses an 0845 number, is charged at local rate, again as you have done I can only quote the information available to me at the time

It is *not* charged at local rate. Please read the link I provided.

NI Water provide more information, whether it opens in pdf format is irrelvant it's extra information, unfortunately it's just not the information you want.

The pdf is a one-page leaflet which doesn't provide any info whatsoever about *this* problem - it's just a standard "there might be a problem, boil your water" notice. Nothing about where, when, what the problem is. That was my point: that the "more" is actually "nothing more".

Call them then and find out exactly what you need to know, what I was suggesting was that not everyone will need to call to get specific's.

Of course not everyone will need to call to get specifics - but their list is clearly *not* complete, and the only option that is provided for those who *do* need more information is a charge-able call. In my opinion, if there is a problem, there should be a way for customers to find out what they need to know without being forced to pay for it.

wifeforlife

Ok clearly your frustrated but lets give this a go, I can't be arsed quoting anymore but I'm also bored off work and like to help as and when I can

1. NI water said they had encountered a below standard sample, as a 'precaution' they have issued guidance to the public in certain area's. Now as they obviously only got this information themselves, they need to test it, get the results and issue a follow up guide, in the meantime they are asking the public you and I to follow instruction to ensure as little disruption until they conclude and let us all know what the exact issue was/is and what they are going to do about it. I still the information provided is adequate and as much as they can at the present. Do I think your still grumpy - yes.

2. My telephone provider is BT - check out this link if your interested in free 0845 calls BT

3. My MD confirmed in a public meeting they where making NO money from the 0845 number used, and insisted no callers where charged higher for calling it regardless of locality - I'll be sure to check this out again for you, I wouldnt want to upset you and get it wrong - Oh and I know your link, I use saynoto0870 from it started thanks

4. Refer to number 1, clearly they dont know what the issue is, or they wouldnt ask you to follow precautions. The additional information is guidelines to ensure that 'if' there is a health risk, the risk is minimal - whether the information is what your looking or not, it's still additional to what they provided on the first page

5. Again you used the word 'if' . Clearly they (NI Water) nor we (the public) yet know if there is a problem so how can they answer you any better on the telephone 'if' they don't know any more information

I do understand your frustration with NI Water, especially today when so many people are still off work, kids off school, many of us are at home. It's a nuisance!

Hope this helps

Cate

blueberrypie

1. NI Water must know which areas are served by the treatment plant which has the problem. A simple map on their website, showing which areas are affected, would provide the necessary information. That's all I'm asking: for NI Water to tell householders whether they need to take precautions with their water or not.

2. With BT, you only get 0845 calls included during the hours your BT calling plan covers. I have the Unlimited Weekend plan, therefore calls to 0845 numbers are included for me during weekends. The only way to have 0845 calls included during business hours is to pay for the Unlimited Anytime plan - their most expensive calling-plan.

3. Your MD is *wrong*. 0845 calls are not included in the vast majority of calling plans. They are charged in addition to any flat-rate you pay, unless you pay for a more expensive calling-plan to start with. They also do allow revenue-sharing - where the company or organisation being called receives part of the call-charge.

Read the link that I provided earlier, to a page on this website. Or read this one: http://www.vorari.com/latest_news/087x_and_084x_scam_numbers_are_your_companies_profiting_from_your_calls

Or this one, from Ofcom: http://www2.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2004/10/nr_20041022 (about half-way down, read the section on "0845 and 0870 voice calls")

4 and 5 - I am not asking for details of what the problem is. I am asking if my area is affected. NI Water have that information, and I don't think it's too much to ask that they make it public.

I'm not grumpy, but yes, I am frustrated. NI Water could, and should, be communicating with its customers much better than this.

arkonite_babe

From the UTV website u.tv

The alert follows the detection of coliforms in a water sample. Coliforms are a form of bacteria which can be detected in sewage and are not normally a cause of sickness, but their presence can indicate other problems.
"Yesterday one of the regular routine tests failed which showed that bacteria may have survived the treatment process," said Dr Richard Smithson, a Consultant in Communicative Disease Control.
"The bacteria that is tested for are not in themselves harmful, but if there is bacteria in the water that could cause vomiting and diarhorea then they may also have survived the treatment process."
The company is advising customers to boil water for cooking and drinking. It says the measure is a precautionary one as investigations take place.
Approximately 220,000 properties are affected.
The specific areas include Antrim, Ballyclare, Ballymena, Belfast, Broughshane, Carnlough, Carryduff, Castlereagh, Crumlin, Dundonald, Dunmurry, Glenarm, Glenavy, Holywood, Kells, Newtownabbey, Randalstown, Templepatrick, and Toomebridge.

Hopefully this might make it easier for people to see if they are in an affected area or not

wifeforlife

NI Water must know which areas are served by the treatment plant which has the problem. They do and they stated them A simple map on their website, showing which areas are affected, would provide the necessary information They named them and didn't draw a map for the illiterate but I can see why a map would be needed if you dont recognise anything close to your area. That's all I'm asking: for NI Water to tell householders whether they need to take precautions with their water or not. They did!

Anyway how'd your telephone call go with them, where they able to tell you if your house was affected

Oh and they have updated news on their website

Northern Ireland Water can confirm that results of analysis from an independent laboratory carried out on water supplied from Dunore Point Water Treatment Works were all satisfactory. We await results from NI Water’s laboratory tests, which will be known this evening, and following discussions with the Health Authorities, the boil water notice will be reviewed.Customers are still advised to boil water for cooking and drinking until further notice

Thanks
Cate

blueberrypie

cathy2702 wrote: »

NI Water must know which areas are served by the treatment plant which has the problem. They do and they stated them A simple map on their website, showing which areas are affected, would provide the necessary information They named them and didn't draw a map for the illiterate but I can see why a map would be needed if you dont recognise anything close to your area.

The list is not a complete list - note the presence of the word, "includes". And while my town is not named in that list, it was fairly clear to me from the geography that it must be affected. Some of those towns are a lot smaller than my town, so it's not a question of only naming large towns.

A map would have been a much more effective way to show customers whether they were in the affected area.

The updated news is really no-news. A second test has come back negative - anyone who knows anything about microbiology could tell you that means nothing. You need repeated tests to give any assurance of the absence of a micro-organism.

I won't be arguing with you over which of us is closer to "illiterate", because it would not be a fair fight.

Anyway how'd your telephone call go with them, where they able to tell you if your house was affected

Yes, they were able to tell me - so they did indeed have more information than has been publicised. And yes, my area is affected, so it would seem I was right to question the completeness of the information provided.