EPA Drinking Water Quality Report 2017

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) released a report about the quality of drinking water in public water supplies based on findings in Ireland during 2017. We have selected the most important information from the report for you.

What’s the drinking water quality in Ireland according to the EPA?

Major issues remain in place:

• High levels of disinfection by-products (THMs)

• Persistent pesticide failures in some supplies

• Large numbers of lead pipe connections in properties

Summary for 2017:

42 boil notices were in place in 17 counties affecting 21,657 people. Precautionary boil notices were put in place on seven supplies in Co. Waterford following Storm Ophelia, which hit Ireland in October 2017. These precautionary notices affected 875 people and were put in place due to power failures caused by the storm.

11 supplies were added to the RAL (Remedial Action List) in 2017. These supplies were added to the RAL for failure to meet the trihalomethane standard, persistent pesticide problems and inadequate treatment for Cryptosporidium. 77 supplies were on the RAL at the end of 2017, supplying water to 686,109 consumers

4 water restriction notices were in place in three counties affecting 233 people. A water restriction generally means that people are advised not to use the water for drinking and are advised to use bottled water instead.

Microbiological parameters (bacteria such as E. coli), chemical parameters (e.g. THMs, Lead) and indicator parameters (e.g. pH, turbidity) were tested in public dinking water supplies across Ireland in 2017.

Microbiological contaminants found in drinking water supplies in Ireland during 2017:

E. coli

Enterococci

Chemical contaminants found in drinking water supplies in Ireland during 2017:

Trihalomethanes

Lead

Fluoride

Pesticides

Nickel

Copper

Nitrate

Selenium

Benzo(a)pyrene

Tetrachloroethene & Trichloroethene

Water quality indicators issues detected during 2017:

pH

Odour

Manganese

Colour

Colony Count @ 22°C

Aluminium

Iron

Coliform Bacteria

Taste

Total Organic Carbon

Turbidity (at tap)

Clostridium perfringens

Ammonium

Sodium

Other issues:

Here is a summary of the main compliance issues identified across the 51 audits:

Inadequate source protection measures can cause the contamination of the source water. Supplies with poor source protection that do not have a treatment barrier are at risk of having Cryptosporidium in the supply.

Improper operation of filters and high turbidity in water after the filters means that if Cryptosporidium is present in the source water, it is also likely to be in the treated water and may pose a risk to human health.

Of the 12 supplies with inadequate disinfection, two of those had no disinfction monitor or alarm, and seven supplies had monitors and alarms that were not working at the time of the audit. Without a working disinfection monitor nd alarm, water treatment plant operators cannot know if disinfection is working correctly. Of the 20 supplies with E. coli failurs notified to the EPA in 2017, seven supplies had issues with their disinfection not working correctly.

How can you protect yourself and your family from the water contaminants and have safe, great-tasting tap water in your home?

You definitely have an option to rely on yourself and install a suitable water filtration system. CWS Water Solutions company offers a wide range of high quality water systems. Founded in 2002, now it’s been the leading water treatment company in Ireland.

Talk to our water treatment expert today!