Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 541: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has undertaken any study of the extent of lead piping connections to households in the Irish water network; if he has assessed the health hazards associated with these old lead connections; and if he plans initiatives to undertake or promote the replacement of such piping. [27806/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations 2000, which transposed Council Directive 98/83/EC, reduced the parametric value for lead in drinking water from 50 micrograms per litre under the previous directive to 10 micrograms per litre. A December 2013 deadline is specified for achieving compliance with this new standard, with an interim value of 25 micrograms per litre required since the end of 2003. Compliance with the interim standard is generally achievable through appropriate treatment at water treatment plants.

Proposals regarding a recommended sampling method for lead, which will inform future plans in this area, are awaited from the European Commission. However, in the meantime, limited sampling of houses in Dublin, known to have lead services, was carried out in 1996. From this survey it is estimated that up to 80% of these premises would be in compliance with the 2013 standard.