Reports of algal blooms at Seagahan Dam in Co. Armagh are ‘not a cause for concern,’ NI Water has said.
Signage has been erected around the reservoir to help the public take precautions when visiting the area.
The sign reads: “Warning. Blue Green Algae. We advise that animals and people should avoid contact with the reservoir water. Dogs may be particularly susceptible.”
The Seagahan Water Treatment Works was first built in 1957 and the Dam was completed in 1959 to service the Works. The reservoir supplies the drinking water for a large area of County Armagh, including Armagh city.
Despite the presence of algae, NI Water has assured the public that water supplied from all Water Treatment Works, is safe to drink as normal.
They say raw water intake is monitored on a daily basis to ensure it meets “strict quality standards”.
The frequency of algae monitoring is also increased in the summer months when the risk of algae in raw water is higher.
NI Water also say that unusual tastes and smells from tap water due to increased algae do not pose a risk to health.
A spokesperson for NI Water commented: “NI Water is aware of reports of algal blooms in the location of Seagahan Dam. Algae in this area would not be an unusual occurrence and is not a cause for concern. Signage has been erected around the reservoir to make the public aware of the presence of this algae to help people take precautions if visiting the area.
“NI Water’s number one priority is the quality and safety of your drinking water.
“We can assure our customers that the water supplied from our Water Treatment Works is safe to drink and use as normal.”
They added: “The Water Treatment Works which is served by Seagahan Dam is designed with the potential for algae to be present and robust treatment processes are in place to manage this effectively.”
In July this year, a £9 million investment to improve the security of the water supply for Co. Armagh customers was completed at the Seagahan Water Treatment Works.
The upgrade, which commenced in September 2022, involved the construction of a new water storage tank, which has a capacity of 7 million litres (7 megalitres).
The upgrade will provide enhanced security of the water supply to customers, particularly during high demand emergency situations.
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