Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I hope it is acceptable to Deputy Kenny that I am taking this Topical Issue matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government who, I have explained to him, has been called away. I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to outline the position in regard to this matter.

With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. Suppliers of drinking water are required to ensure that the water supplied complies with the chemical and microbiological parameters set out in the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The maximum allowable value for lead is 10 microgrammes per litre, which limit came into effect on 25 December 2013. The Environmental Protection Agency is the supervisory authority with responsibility for monitoring Irish Water's compliance with the drinking water regulations. In the event of non-compliance with the quality standards set out in the regulations, the water supplier will investigate the cause in consultation with the EPA and, where a potential risk to human health exists, with the Health Service Executive to ensure that appropriate remedial action is taken. A case-by-case approach will be considered by Irish Water in line with its statutory responsibilities and in recognition of the statutory responsibilities of the HSE and the EPA to develop local responses to issues which arise in particular locations.

Irish Water has informed the Department of the Environment , Community and Local Government that of its estimated 60,000 km distribution system, it has identified a very small proportion - approximately 2 km of water-mains - as possibly containing lead. As such, Irish Water has commenced a programme of verification and removal that will be completed in 2015. However, there are a significant number of lead service pipes between the water mains and the customer stopcock or water meter. Irish Water is identifying the location of such lead service connections during the metering installation programme. It is currently identified that approximately 5% of houses are affected, but this is expected to be higher in town centre areas. Irish Water also estimates that there may be a further 30,000 to 40,000 houses with shared lead backyard service connections. Irish Water has informed the Department that it intends to invest in public lead pipe replacement schemes, primarily communications pipes, with a view to eliminating lead mains, including shared backyard service connections, over the next ten years. This is probably the issue that most concerns the Deputy. Irish Water is also reviewing its water treatment processes to ensure they mitigate the risk in the short term.

The Water Services Act 2007 provides that the owner of a premises is responsible for the maintenance and renewal of the internal water distribution system. Responsibility for replacing lead pipes from the mains stopcock to a house and within the house rests, therefore, with the house owner. In a joint position paper on lead published by the EPA and HSE in 2013, it was recommended that all lead pipes and plumbing in public and private ownership should be replaced over time.

With regard to the proposal for a grants scheme, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is developing a national strategy for lead which it is discussing with the Department of Health, Irish Water, the HSE and the EPA to map the scale of the problem and identify measures to mitigate any risk posed to human health by lead in drinking water. I understand that the Government was informed at the Cabinet meeting this morning that the strategy will be completed and published in the next month. I hope this information is of some value to the Deputy.

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