Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 344: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the level of safety in fluoride dosing at water supplies both for public and public group water supplies having regard to the Environmental Protection Agency's, Drinking Water Report 2007 to 2008, in which fluoride exceedances were 8.9% of reported samples for public water supplies and 12.4% for public group water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20971/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The EPA's latest report on Drinking Water Quality, The Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland 2007-2008 notes that non-compliances with the fluoride standard are almost entirely due to excessive dosing of fluoride by water services authorities. The EPA has attributed the compliance rates of 91.1% and 87.6%, for public water supplies and public group schemes respectively, to confusion regarding adherence to the fluoride parametric value in the Drinking Water Regulations 2007 and the Fluoridation of Water Supplies Regulations 2007. The Drinking Water Regulations set a standard of 0.8mg/litre which could not be exceeded from 1 July 2007. Prior to 1 July 2007, a standard of 1.0mg/ litre applied. The Fluoridation of Water Supplies Regulations 2007 require that the minimum dose of fluoride be at least 0.8mg/litre and no more than 1.0mg/litre. The EPA report that the majority of fluoride non compliances were marginally above the parametric value (0.8mg/litre). Following the harmonisation of both standards in July 2007, compliance with the fluoride standard increased to 96.9% for the second six months of 2007.

The Drinking Water Regulations 2007 require a water services authority to ensure that any failure to meet quality standards in any water supply in its functional area is investigated immediately to determine the cause. Where there is a failure to meet the chemical standards set out in the Regulations, or where there is a risk to human health, the water services authority must inform the EPA, which is responsible for the supervision of public water supplies.