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 is wholesome and clean. Water which is wholesome and clean is defined as water which is free from any micro-organisms and parasites and from any substances which, in numbers or concentrations, constitute a potential danger to human health and which meets the quality standards specified in the Schedule to the Regulations. Hard water is not included as a parameter in the quality standard tables included in the Schedule to the Regulations as neither it, nor associated substances such as lime, calcium and magnesium, pose a threat to human health.
Even though hard water is safe to drink and meets the required drinking water standards, some households may choose to soften their supply but this is a matter of personal choice. There are no plans to introduce any scheme of financial support in respect of the installation of water softeners.
