A number of households in the Castlebar area discovered brown-coloured water coming out of their taps earlier today, and yesterday evening they were suddenly left with no water coming out of their taps.

Local Councillor Ger Deere contacted Irish Water this morning about the problem and the utility company told him that planned essential works were underway on the system.

However, the councillor says no household / business was notified of these works in advance and so individuals and families were left in the dark as to why they had no water and when it was restored, they found it to be discoloured.

Councillor Deere raised the matter at this afternoon’s monthly meeting of Castlebar Municipal District. He said Irish Water told him that the disruption to the supply due to essential works being carried out was published onits website.

But councillor Deere said that is not adequate. Irish Water, he insisted needs to inform customers affected on local radio and press.

He said clean water is a health and safety issue, and children and adults drank discoloured water this morning in Castlebar because they were not aware of the essential works underway by Irish Water on the Castlebar water supply.