Vol. 396 No. 4
5 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make a statement on a survey (details supplied) which shows contamination of water supplies which is exceeding EC standards and which found that 25 per cent of treated Dublin water samples in 1988 contained more aluminium than the maximum levels allowed under EC and national regulations and whether he is satisfied that drinking water supplies do not pose any danger to health.
I have noted the concerns expressed in the survey referred to and wish to assure the Deputy that I attach the highest priority to the achievement of the statutory drinking water quality standards. Under the ongoing sanitary services programme there is a strong emphasis on water quality, and where problems have been identified, investment is under way or planned to develop new sources, provide necessary treatment works and upgrade distribution systems. The survey acknowledged the improvement which has taken place as a result of increased expenditure and improved operation of treatment plants. I recognise that the statutory quality standards have not been achieved yet in all drinking water supplies. However, in order to ensure that they are fully and consistently met in all areas, the Government have decided, under the environment action programme, to spend up to £300 million between now and the year 2000 on new and improved public water supply schemes.
The quality of drinking water in Dublin is generally very good and Dublin Corporation monitor levels of residual aluminium on a daily basis. These are well within the statutory limit in water produced at Leixlip and Ballyboden following improvement works at these plants over recent years. Aluminium sulphate is not used in the treatment of the Roundwood water supply. In the case of the Ballymore Eustace water supply, the statutory limit has proved difficult to maintain because the treatment works are overloaded and water filters are in poor condition. Major improvement works, which I approved in January 1989, are now under way at Ballymore Eustace, at a cost of £14 million. In addition to providing an extra 40 million gallons of water a day to the Dublin area, these works will ensure that the quality standards of the drinking water regulations are consistently met. In the meantime, everything possible is being done to keep aluminium exceedances to the minimum level.
Overall, the quality of drinking water in Ireland is very good. However, water supply sources are vulnerable to pollution from activities in their catchment areas. In addition, old and corroded distribution systems may affect the quality of water which reaches consumers. Private wells may be susceptible to contamination if poorly located in relation to septic tanks or, for example, waste storage areas on farms. If monitoring shows that quality standards are not being met, sanitary authorities are required to warn users of the water supply where there is an unacceptable risk to public health, and to prepare action programmes for the improvement of public water supplies as soon as practicable. I am satisfied that drinking water supplies do not generally pose a danger to health and that the Government are taking an effective and realistic approach in committing very substantial public funds to the continued improvement of water quality.
Does the Minister agree with the Consumer Choice magazine which states that in 1988 25 per cent of Dublin water samples contained more aluminium than the maximum levels allowed either under EC or national regulations? Would the Minister accept that that is still the position? Does he also agree that the results of sampling in Counties Laois, Louth, Monaghan, Cavan and in Athlone town suggest aluminium levels up to three times the maximum permitted on average? Would the Minister agree that this is a major cause of public concern in the light of the link between Alzheimers disease and aluminium in water supplies? Would he indicate whether consideration has been given by his Department to indicating to local authorities that any other treatment agent should be used on water supplies other than aluminium nitrates for the purpose of providing clear water?
A Cheann Comhairle, on a point of order, at what time are Priority Questions taken?
The Deputy should leave that matter to the Chair.
It is a bit tough being deprived of Priority Question Time.
It is audacious of the Deputy to intervene during the precious time associated with questions nominated for priority.
It is 2.55 p.m.
It is not helping the situation.
Several things arise a Cheann Comhairle. It is the Government's policy that the quality standards required by regulations are met in full. Some problems have been identified, and the Deputy is right in drawing our attention to them. Members will be aware of the improvement works at Ballymore Eustace and there are also some very considerable improvements taking place at other locations — Belturbet, Castleconnell, County Limerick and Ballymahon, County Longford. It is important to say that as far as Alzheimers disease and its relationship to aluminium in water is concerned recent studies have not established a casual relationship between the two. There is no evidence that the use of aluminium as a treatment method should be discontinued. However, there is a great deal of research ongoing at present which has to be kept closely in mind.
Aluminium is one of the commonest metals in the earth's surface. Drinking water provides the source of less than 10 per cent of the normal daily intake; so a lot of other foods and substances contain aluminium as well. Drinking water is only one of them and a very small contributory factor to aluminium intake every day.
We have good quality drinking water and it is our intention to make it the best in Europe. That is the reason there is such a large commitment in the action programme to deal with the drinking water quality standards.
Could the Minister indicate to the House by what date can he guarantee the drinking water supply in Dublin city and county will meet EC standards? Second, will he acknowledge that rather than providing major additional finance to tackle the quality of water, during the ten year period 1990-2000, the Government have substantially reduced the financial allocation, while £700 million was made available in the period 1980-89 by Governments of different political persuasions? It appears that this Government's total commitment is less than half that in the course of this new decade.
There was always a big commitment by all Governments to expenditure on sanitary services. I accept that very substantial sums have been spent over the years——
What the Minister has committed for the next ten years is less than what has been spent in the previous ten years.
What we are now putting in place — in fact we are the first in Europe to attempt this and it has been accepted as a major initiative by the Irish Presidency — is a commitment of almost £1 billion over ten years to improve pollution control, drinking water standards and the quality of water in rivers, lakes and in the coastal regions. Any EC country will be hard pushed to match that.
With regard to the £14 million plant at Ballymore Eustace, I do not have the exact date on which that will be finalised, but I think it should be completed within 18 months to two years and that will make a significant improvement in the standard of water.
On a point of order, Sir, I really must protest that it is almost 3 o'clock and we are just leaving Priority Question Time. My party have been deprived of Priority Questions in this House every second day, and I really must protest on this occasion.
The Chair does his best in these matters. The Chair has consistently brought to the attention of the House the need for brevity and the desire to complete Priority Questions within the prescribed time. Deputies ought not to crib if there is a minute one way or the other——
I most certainly will in a situation where we are deprived of Priority Questions and we are the only party——
It happens very regularly to Deputies other than members of the Deputy's party.
I would have thought the Deputy would be concerned about the water supply in Dublin and be fully interested in teasing out the matter.
Not unless he is able to get his name to the question.
Let us not waste any more time.
