Statutory drinking water standards have been prescribed under the European Communities (Quality of Water Intended for Human Consumption) Regulations, 1988, which specify maximum admissible concentration values for a total of 53 parameters. Extensive monitoring is carried out by local authorities to comply with these regulations, and results generally demonstrate the good quality of Irish drinking water supplies. The first annual report on the quality of drinking water in Ireland, which was published last year, confirms this position but also defines the dimensions of the problems which still exist; these relate mainly to exceedance of the standards for aluminium and coliforms.