Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 572: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 1156 of 26 September 2007, if local authorities here have followed his Department's request to install continuous chlorine alarms and turbidity meters at appropriate locations at the treatment plant or in the distribution network in order to avoid trihalomethanes produced by high levels of chlorine and organic compounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5051/10]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 573: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the legal limit set for trihalomethanes in public water supplies; the levels that were recorded in water supplies in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5052/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 572 and 573 together.

During 2007, water services authorities were asked by my Department to review the operation of all water treatment plants (and associated infrastructure) and to ensure that the installation of continuous chlorine alarms and turbidity meters at appropriate locations at the treatment plant or in the distribution network (including at reservoirs) is progressed without delay. This request was restated in August 2008 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who issued a circular to water services authorities recommending the installation of a chlorine monitor and alarm in each public water supply.

Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) (No.2) Regulations 2007, the EPA is responsible for the supervision of public water supplies. The EPA is responsible for ensuring that each public water supply has appropriate treatment in place, including chlorine and turbidity monitors and alarms, where appropriate. In November 2009, the EPA issued an advice note to each water services authority on the approach to dealing with turbidity in drinking water. This was one of a series of six drinking water advice notes issued by the EPA during 2009.

Under the Drinking Water Regulations, the EPA can issue a binding direction to a water services authority to take the relevant action to ensure compliance with the parameters set out in the Regulations. Failure to comply with such a direction may lead to prosecution. The Drinking Water Regulations imposed a parametric value for trihalomethanes of 150 micro grammes until 25 December 2008; thereafter, a parametric value of 100 micro grammes became effective. In 2006, compliance with the parametric value for trihalomethanes was 96.6% and in 2007 compliance was 97.3%. The EPA has not completed its analysis of sampling results for 2008 and 2009.