And the water is still dodgy......
From the RP:
Festival fears unfounded
by Brian Fleming
.
FEARS that the Galway festival might be in jeopardy due to the contamination of drinking water in the vicinity have led to several costly remedial measures being undertaken ahead of the seven-day bonanza.
Galway's health crisis has been ongoing since March when the local council issued a precautionary ‘boil water' notice to some 90,000 households in all of the city and parts of the county.
This was prompted by an unseasonal rise in the number of laboratory-confirmed cases of the gastrointestinal illness, cryptosporidiosis.
Latest results have revealed that the contamination of drinking water with human waste is the primary cause of the problem, which led to fears about the upcoming arts festival and Galway race week, which runs from July 30 to August 5.
John Moloney, manager at Galway racecourse, allayed fears of the meeting being in any danger.
“The Galway race committee has commissioned a company, Chem-Aqua, to install a filtration and UV light system that will prevent any particular cryptosporidium entering the racecourse.
“They will be installed in eight different areas on the racecourse. The advice we have received is to install them locally into each building.”
Figures released on Tuesday showed 236 cases of cryptosporidium were confirmed in theGalway area since the beginning of the year with Lough Corrib, the source of the city's water supply, also the source of the parasite.
The racecourse's new Killanin Stand, due to be opened next month, is one of the areas pencilled in to have the filtration system installed and Moloney added:
“We will also be putting one in the Millennium Stand, the amenity building with the owners and trainers area and restaurant, the Mayors bar as well as the marquee area and fast food area. We alsohave one going in the stabling area and also into a large tank that we use as back up.
“By doing this we will be complying with the prevention measures required to keep cryptosporidium out of the racecourse, at a considerable cost I understand.”
Given the long-range forecast, further measures have also been taken to account for the watering of the track if required, according to Moloney.
He added: “We have also commissioned local pump contractors who have recently sunk an additional well near the stable yard area so we have adequate water, if needed, to water the track.
“This system will cover drinking water for the horses too and ensure all water in Galway racecourse will be cryptosporidium free.”
Although there has been a tailing off in the number of new cases in the region, the drinking water ban, in place since March, is unlikely to be lifted until the end of July.
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A load of SHITE(and spew) no doubt................ 
