Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Jul 2001

Vol. 540 No. 1

Written Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

80 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps which are being taken to ensure that water supplied through rural water schemes is safe to drink, having regard to the recent report showing dangerously high levels of bacteria, sewage and toxins in a number of areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19710/01]

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

92 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the way in which he intends to improve the water quality of group water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19795/01]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 92 together.

The report in question relates to interim results (for the first three months) of a 12 month monitoring programme of some 800 private group water schemes which is being conducted by the National Rural Water Monitoring Committee. This programme has the objective of compiling a comprehensive data base on source water quality for group schemes. The data will be used to aid the selection and procurement of appropriate water filtration and disinfection equipment for group water schemes nationally.

The interim test results relate to raw water samples which were taken prior to any treatment, and not at consumers' taps. They have been made available on the clear understanding that the analytical findings are subject to further scrutiny and that they should not be confused with the monitoring of drinking water standards which must take place at the point of consumption.

Drinking water sampling is carried out by the local authorities on both public and private schemes and is reported on by the Environmental Protection Agency in its annual drinking water report. It would be premature to draw any con clusions from the interim source sampling until the full 12 months programme has been completed and the analytical findings are properly verified.

My Department is fully conscious of water quality deficiencies affecting group water schemes. The most recent report by the EPA on the quality of drinking water shows a welcome reduction, from 42% to 38%, in the level of coliform exceedances in group schemes. The remaining quality problem centres on privately sourced schemes that supply some 5% of households nationally. The Government's determination to address this problem is demonstrated by the record £420 million being provided for the rural water programme under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. The bulk of this funding is intended for the upgrading and renewal of deficient group schemes. Annual spending on rural water has increased from £8.5 million in 1996 to some £50 million in the current year.

Last year saw a radical restructuring and improvement of group scheme capital grants. These grants were increased from the former 75% of cost, subject to a cost limit of £1,600 per house, to 85% with a cost limit of £6,000 per house. For the first time ever, a new 100% capital grant was introduced for the provision of essential water treatment and disinfection equipment in privately sourced schemes.

The National Federation of Group Water Schemes, with my Department's support, is also introducing a quality assurance scheme for the group water sector that will require all privately sourced schemes to achieve specific performance standards with regard to administration, management and operation.

New drinking water regulations made last December require all group water schemes serving 50 persons or more to reach the stringent standards for drinking water quality by the end of 2003. Rapid strides are being made to tackle and overcome the difficulties affecting the group scheme sector in order to meet that deadline. Overall I am satisfied that the rural water programme is dealing effectively with, and will resolve the deficiencies in, group supplies in the shortest possible timescale.