asked the Minister for the Enviornment if he will give details of regulations pertaining to the quality of water for domestic use; and if he is aware of complaints (details supplied) about a strong chlorine taste in certain areas in Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Domestic Water Quality.
18.
Sanitary Authorities are obliged under section 65 of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, to provide and keep in any water works provided by them a supply of pure and wholesome water. It is a matter for each sanitary authority to comply with the terms of the EC Directive 80/778/EEC of 15 July 1980, which relates to the quality of water intended for human consumption. The directive does not specify standards regarding chlorine. The amount of chlorine used must vary depending on the quality of the water to be sterilised. The use by sanitary authorities of chlorine to sterilise water for human consumption is done in accordance with standard international water supply practice.
I am aware of the recent problem regarding the water supply serving some parts of Dublin city and county. According to a report submitted by Dublin County Council there were no health risks arising from the water. The local authority have indicated that the difficulty was caused by the recent cold spell which resulted in waters entering and discharging from the treatment works at Leixlip having a higher than normal concentration of ammonia. The sudden changes in water temperatures at the water intake works allowed the ammonia-enriched waters at lower levels to rise to the top. This ammonia reacted with the normal chlorine additive to give the taste and colour problem. The supplies are now back to normal.
While I agree that we are not talking about a health hazard here, surely the Minister would concede that to arrive at a point when domestic drinking water would be a health hazard would be all too serious? The taste of the water in the Dublin supply is very bad indeed. Would the Minister of State agree that much of this trouble is being caused by corroded pipes in the system? This information has come to me from officials. Would he take steps to try to improve the quality of the piping servicing the water system in Dublin city?
If the Deputy has had information from officials I would like to know who the officials were and then I will take the matter up. The information I have here has been supplied by the local authorities, as I would have expected it would be, but indicated a different matter. Certainly I will take up the matter of corroded pipes with the authorities because we want to ensure a supply of good, clean water.
Regarding officials, this type of reply comes from the waterworks department. When a person complains about the quality of the water that department write back to say that a matter of the piping is causing that problem. I would like the Minister to treat this as a high priority. The difference between water quality in rural and urbanised areas is quite stark. Finally, I did not quite hear the date of the regulations that the Minister gave at the start of his reply.
The Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878.
I would earnestly ask the Minister to update that legislation, which is now 109 years old.
Then we have another directive from the EC dated 15 July 1980.
Get your own house in order first.
I am sorry. It relates also, so it is updated.