Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 14 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 2

Written Answers. - Water Chlorination.

John V. Farrelly

Ceist:

101 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that the use of chlorination in muddy water deems this water as being safe for human consumption; the criteria his Department use for this approval; if this is in line with the directive of the World Health Organisation in view of the recent and ongoing crisis with a water scheme (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17555/01]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

Statutory responsibility for the provision of drinking water supplies and for upholding the prescribed quality standards rests with sanitary authorities.

Stringent drinking water standards are prescribed in the European Communities (Quality of Water Intended for Human Consumption) Regulations, 1988 (SI 81 of 1988) which transpose Council Directive 80/778/EEC. Article 4 of these regulations places a duty on sanitary authorities to take the necessary measures to ensure that water intended for human consumption meets these standards. This duty is performed under the general supervision of the Environmental Protection Agency. Chlorination is a means of disinfection for drinking water supplies and, depending on individual circumstances, may require augmentation by other measures to ensure compliance with the prescribed standards.

With regard to the Loughbracken water supply scheme, I refer to my reply on the Adjournment of the Dáil on 31 May.