Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Apr 1993

Vol. 429 No. 6

Written Answers. - Water Pressure in Public Supplies.

Michael Bell

Question:

136 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment if he has issued any regulations or provided any guidelines or criteria as to the minimum level of water pressure in the supply of domestic waters to private dwellings or local authority dwellings where the owner/tenant is required to pay service/water charges; if so, if he will give details of the guidelines, criteria of regulations issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. M. Smith)

Apart from certain long-standing general provisions of sanitary services legislation, which are of limited application, there are no specific regulations governing the minimum level of water pressure in public supplies. Good engineering practice in the design of public schemes generally aims at a minimum residual pressure of 14 metres water head throughout the system. This engineering guideline may not however be achieveable in all locations.