Three public water supplies in Donegal remain on the EPA’s Remedial Action List, requiring improvements to safeguard public health.
The EPA’s Drinking Water Quality report, published today, shows that over 99.7% of public water supplies comply with bacterial and chemical limits, which means our public water is safe to drink.
In 2022, the number of people served by public water supplies on the Remedial Action List increased to nearly 481,000, up from 374,000 at the end of 2021.
In Donegal, the affected supplies are Glenties-Ardara, Lettermacaward and Milford, encompassing a combined 8,300 people.
Works are progressing on the Glenties-Ardara and Lettermacaward supplies, according to the report.
It’s expected that THM, raw water colour and organic content issues on the Glenties-Ardara will be addressed by September 2024.
Work on an upgraded water treatment plant for Lettermacaward is due to be completed in December 2024.
The EPA said it is awaiting plans from Uisce Eireann on the Milford water supply.
Dr Tom Ryan, EPA Director said: “Our public water quality remains very high, which means that the public can be confident that the drinking water supplied to their homes is safe to drink. Uisce Éireann has made good progress in delivering necessary new drinking water infrastructure such as the new plant at Lee Road in Cork which now supplies high quality drinking water to 97,000 people.
“However, the EPA through our inspection and monitoring programme, continues to identify drinking water plants that are at risk and require improvements and upgrades. At the end of 2022, there were 481,000 people being served by at risk supplies on EPA’s RAL. Uisce Éireann needs to prioritise investment in those plants to improve the resilience of drinking supplies, to provide a safe and secure supply into the future.”
In response to the report, Tom Cuddy, Uisce Éireann’s Head of Asset Operations said, “Uisce Éireann operates over 700 water treatment plants across Ireland and we are committed to delivering transformative water services which enable communities to thrive.
“In 2022, we invested over €500 million in our water treatment plants and networks, with a number of new water treatment plants built or significantly upgraded and an additional 30 sites enhanced under the National Disinfection Programme. Key projects completed include a new treatment plant in Cork City benefitting over 97,000 people with a cleaner, more secure drinking water supply. We have also built or upgraded water treatment plants in Skibbereen (Cork), Mountain Stage and Ballyheigue (Kerry), Ballymagroarty (Donegal), Ballymahon (Longford) and Athlone (Westmeath).
“We have an ambitious capital investment programme, through which we will continue to improve the safety and resilience of Ireland’s drinking water supplies in the years to come.”
