asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the methods used to test the water supply in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, for its suitability for human consumption following pollution from pig slurry; and if he will furnish a report of the findings.
Written Answers. - Ballyshannon (Donegal) Water Supply.
537.
Mr. Coughlan
It is the responsibility of individual sanitary authorities to provide a supply of pure and wholesome water and to carry out periodic bacteriological tests of the supply at regular intervals together with occasional chemical tests when the sanitary authority considers it desirable. Following the discovery of the pollution of the water supply serving Ballyshannon in January, 1984 the sanitary authority discontinued the Ardpatton Lough source as a public water supply. The county medical officer arranged that a number of samples be taken from the water system and sent to the public analyst for testing. These samples were subjected to chemical and physical analysis, examination for bio-chemical oxygen demand and bacteriological analysis. These sampling and testing procedures were carried out on a daily basis until the county medical officer was satisfied that the water supply was fit for human consumption. Further tests were carried out following restoration of the supply and these confirmed that all traces of the pollution had disappeared.