Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 May 1991

Vol. 408 No. 7

Written Answers. - West of Ireland Water Supplies.

Bernard Allen

Question:

154 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the recent reports by the Galway Public Analysis Laboratory that aluminium levels in water supplies in the west of Ireland are at an unacceptably high level and could pose a health risk to consumers.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

Aluminium sulphate is used worldwide in the treatment of drinking water to remove colour and cloudiness. Its use is accepted by the World Health Organisation.

Stringent standards for water quality apply to drinking water or water used in food production under the European Communities (Quality of Water intended for Human Consumption) Regulations, 1988, which were drawn up by the Department of the Environment to give legal effect to EC Directive 80/778. It is the Government's policy that the quality standards required by the Regulations will be met in full in all drinking water supplies at the earliest possible date.

Under the ongoing sanitary services programme high priority is being given to meeting the statutory quality standards. The Government have also decided, under the environment action programme, to spend up to £300 million between now and the year 2000 on new and improved water schemes. In the meantime the position is being closely monitored to ensure that there is no health risk to consumers.