James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Boyhan for raising the important issue of trihalomethanes, THMs, in our public water supplies, which gives me an opportunity to give an overview of the work being undertaken to improve the quality and resilience of our public and private water supplies.

The programme for Government sets out clear and ambitious commitments to ensure that Irish Water accelerates the resolution of schemes on the remedial action list of the Environmental Protection Authority, EPA, including that the formation of THMs is minimised. We are also continuing to invest in a multi-annual capital funding programme to improve the quality of drinking water in community owned and run rural group water schemes.

For public water supplies, the Senator will appreciate that since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level. The maintenance and remedial work necessary in our water system is ongoing and being actively pursued. It is likely that it will take a number of years and investment cycles to fully resolve all the issues and risks and address the pressures of an increasing population and a changing climate. In response, the Government is providing substantial funding to Irish Water to fulfil its role and has committed to an ambitious, multi-annual funding plan. The Government is delivering on the €8.5 billion funding package committed to in Project Ireland 2040.

Irish Water has completed large and complex projects such as a new water treatment plant at Vartry and a full upgrade of the Leixlip water treatment plant. These two projects alone improved water quality and supply resilience for 717,000 people. Irish Water is taking action to remove the risk of elevated levels of THMs forming in all public water supplies. At the end of 2016, there were 71 supplies on the EPA's remedial action list for THMs, impacting 464,791 customers. As of 30 September 2022, there were 24 supplies serving 243,137 people on the remedial action list for THMs.

For private group water schemes, each local authority acts as the supervisory authority for its own functional area under the drinking water regulations and is supervised in this role by the EPA. Each group water scheme is community owned and run. The Department is working directly with local authorities to resolve remaining issues with private group water schemes that have THM issues or risks. The adoption of effective measures to ensure compliance with the directive requires local authority liaison and co-operation with the management and members of these schemes.