Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 March 2022
63. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Irish Water’s plan to eliminate trihalomethanes in public drinking water supplies by the end of 2021 has been successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15293/22]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels, including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure, while the local authorities remain responsible for private water supplies.
Under the Drinking Water Regulations 2014, as amended, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the supervisory authority for water supplied by Irish Water. The EPA produces an annual Public Supply Drinking Water Report and Private Supply Drinking Water Report, which provides an overview of the quality of drinking water in public and private supplies. The EPA’s Remedial Action List is a register of public water supplies that are in need of corrective action, usually at the water treatment plant. The most recent update relates to Q4 2021. The reports are based on the assessment of monitoring results reported to the EPA by Irish Water and the Local Authorities, and on EPA and Local Authority enforcement activities.
The EPA report on Irish Water’s performance in relation to Drinking Water Quality and the most report Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies 2020 was published in December 2021 and is available at the following link: www.epa.ie/publications/compliance--enforcement/drinking-water/annual-drinking-water-reports/drinking-water-quality-in-public-supplies-2020-.php
