Vol. 508 No. 1
553 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he is monitoring the results of his request to sanitary authorities to examine all aspects of the operation of treatment plants following the publication of the EPA report on the quality of drinking water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17269/99]
Following publication of the 1997 EPA report on drinking water quality, my Department wrote to sanitary authorities in April this year in relation to a number of policy issues arising from the report. Sanitary authorities were reminded, inter alia, of the critical importance of optimising the operation of water treatment plants and were asked to examine all aspects of the operation of treatment plants in the light of the recommendations set out in the report. Responsibility for the provision of drinking water supplies and for compliance with prescribed quality standards rests with local authorities, under the general supervision of the Environmental Protection Agency. Generally, my Department does not ask sanitary authorities to report on the operation of treatment plants.
Due to relatively high levels of exceedances of the microbiological parameters in certain areas, my Department requested 11 sanitary authorities to report on their proposals to remedy deficiencies identified in the EPA report. Reports have been received from eight of these authorities indicating that, where needed, appropriate remedial action is being taken.
My Department, through the water services national training group in association with FÁS, is actively promoting best practice in the operation and management of water supply infrastructure by local authorities and provides training and certification for operatives, technicians and managers with responsibility for water treatment and distribution systems.
In addition, my Department is supporting a number of technical assistance measures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of water services infrastructure management. These include the creation of a computerised complete information system which will provide an integrated database to facilitate the presentation and assessment of data on individual schemes in report and graphical format for local management. A national water study is also under way to examine the estimated 120 public supplies serving population equivalents of more than 5,000. The aim of the study is to create a detailed inventory of major water schemes and, inter alia, to identify the quality of the infrastructure, the existing demand-supply situation and the most appropriate way of undertaking necessary improvements. The study is due to be completed early in 2000.
