Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2015
768. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has directed Irish Water to replace lead piping in households in Dublin Bay North; his plans to announce a programme to urgently replace these dangerous pipes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23362/15]
View answer811. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to the reports of water containing lead in quantities that are dangerous, the reason no notification of the danger has been sent to persons in areas affected; the reason no safe uncontaminated water is being made available to persons by way of tankers; when the grant that is being proposed will be made available; if it is on condition that persons sign up to Irish Water; and if this grant and the amounts involved will be off-balance for Irish Water or Government. [23959/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 768 and 811 together.
With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. Under the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, suppliers of drinking water are required to ensure that the water supplied complies with the chemical and microbiological parameters set out in the Regulations. The maximum allowable value for lead is 10 microgrammes per litre, which came into effect on 25 December 2013.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the supervisory authority with responsibility for monitoring Irish Water’s compliance with the Drinking Water Regulations. In the event of non-compliance with the quality standards set out in the Regulations, the water supplier is required to investigate the cause in consultation with the EPA and, if a potential risk to human health exists, with the Health Service Executive (HSE), to ensure that the appropriate remedial actions are taken, including the issue of notifications to consumers affected or restriction of the supply. A case by case approach will be considered by Irish Water, in line with its statutory responsibilities and in recognition of the statutory responsibilities of the HSE and the EPA.
Irish Water has informed my Department that, having over recent months replaced the approximate 2 kilometres of water-mains which contained lead, no part of its estimated 60,000 kilometres of distribution system now contains lead. As part of its metering programme, Irish Water has identified significant numbers of lead service connections between the public mains and the customer stopcock and water meter. Irish Water is committed to replacing these over time. The data being collected by Irish Water is being provided to the HSE for assessment and a rolling programme of advising relevant customers who are at risk of having lead pipework has commenced. If a property owner replaces the lead pipework on their property, Irish Water will also replace the pipework between the watermain and the property boundary.
The Water Services Act 2007 provides that the owner of a premises is responsible for the maintenance and renewal of the internal water distribution system. Responsibility for replacing lead pipes from the property boundary to the house and within the house therefore rests with the homeowner. In a joint position paper on lead published by the EPA and HSE in 2013, it is recommended that all lead pipes and plumbing in public and private ownership should be replaced over time.
Last week I announced a National Strategy to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water which has been approved by the Government. The Strategy was prepared by my Department and the Department of Health in consultation with Irish Water, the HSE and the EPA. As part of the Strategy I will be establishing a new grant scheme to assist low income households to replace lead pipes in their home. Funding for the scheme will be finalised in the context of Budget 2016. It is envisaged that the grant scheme will be administered by local authorities and that the available resources will be prioritised to areas of highest risk. The terms and conditions of the scheme will be publicised as soon as they are finalised.
