Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputies O'Dowd and Tuffy for raising this Adjournment matter. I am responding on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley.

I understand five water supplies in County Louth have been identified by the EPA as having elevated lead levels in the water distribution system and that the agency notified Louth County Council of this last Tuesday. The council advised the Health Service Executive of the situation yesterday and representatives of the two bodies are meeting today to discuss any follow-up actions required. I understand the council has already contacted affected households and commercial premises.

We have in place a rigorous supervisory framework to ensure good quality drinking water is a primary goal for county and city councils and that effective mechanisms are in place to deal quickly and effectively with problems where they arise. Local authority drinking water supplies are subject to supervision by the EPA, which has the necessary resources to follow through with its new enforcement powers. Each local authority is required to ensure that any failure to meet quality standards in its water supplies is investigated immediately, to inform the EPA promptly and to consult with the HSE. Where incidences arise, the EPA can issue appropriate directions to the local authority to prevent or remove any health risk. Failure to comply with a direction is an indictable offence and subject to heavy penalties.

Under the EPA's published guidance, where non-compliance is caused by the interaction of water with a local authority's pipe work and fittings, the authority is required to take action to secure restoration of water quality either by replacing the affected pipe work or providing additional treatment to prevent or remediate the adverse effect on water quality. Where non-compliance is caused or contributed to by a consumer's pipe work and fittings, the local authority is required to advise the consumer on action to be taken to reduce exposure. The HSE advises that, from a public health perspective, the risk to those affected from raised water lead levels depends on a number of factors, including the duration of exposure, the level of exposure, age and other characteristics which affect the individual's absorption of lead.

If a main water distribution pipe in an area is constructed of lead, the HSE's advice is that it is not safe to drink the water or use it for cooking until further notice. Boiling the water will not make it safe as it does not remove the lead. Residents, especially children under six, pregnant women and women planning a pregnancy, should use boiled water drawn from the water supply tanks provided by the local authority, or bottled water, for drinking. Infant formula should also be prepared with boiled water from the tanks in the area or suitable bottled water. Suitable bottled waters include brands with a sodium content of less than 20 mg per litre.

Where the main distribution pipe is not made of lead, and the problem relates to lead pipes connecting individual households to the mains pipe and internal lead plumbing, the advice is that if a home was built or modernised since 1970 it is unlikely that there are any lead pipes on the property. Pregnant women and carers of children under six who live or stay in houses built before 1970 should flush the pipes as a precaution. To do this, the cold water kitchen tap should be run to fill the sink, particularly first thing in the morning, or if the water has been unused in the pipes for longer than six hours. Tap water can be used until further notice. Tap water is safe for bathing, showering, brushing teeth, and washing dishes and clothes even if homes have lead service pipes.

In County Louth, arising from consultations with the HSE and the EPA, the local authorities' priorities will be to clarify fully what areas are affected, introduce additional water treatment that would eliminate the leaching effect from old lead pipes, and implement permanent pipe replacement measures, where appropriate, as quickly as possible.

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