Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the projects to replace public water supply infrastructure made of lead that have been funded by his Department in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in tabular form by local authority; if he will set out the moneys on these projects; the works needed to replace lead water pipes by local authorities according to information available to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9518/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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My Department understands that lead water distribution mains do not constitute a significant portion of the overall supply networks nationwide. At issue are lead connections to individual premises and internal lead plumbing that could affect drinking water quality and, therefore, have public health implications, necessitating replacement of the pipes involved. Only the replacement of lead connections on the public supply side is eligible for funding from my Department.

In addition to replacing lead services, appropriate pH correction can be made at water treatments plants to ensure the water is not corrosive and to prevent lead from old pipes leaching into supply. The dosing of phosphates has also been recommended by the EPA to local authorities as a means of reducing plumbosolvency (ability of water to dissolve lead) as it has the further effect of sealing the lead within the connections.

Total Exchequer expenditure on projects over the period 2007 to 2009 under the National Water Conservation Sub-Programme of the Water Services Investment Programme 2007 – 2009 amounted to some €79 million, of which close to €27 million related specifically to mains rehabilitation. Details of funding provided to the relevant authorities in each of the years 2007, 2008 and 2009 for projects involving mains rehabilitation is set out in the following table.

Mains Rehabilitation 2007 - 2009

It is understood that only the Galway City project and one of the Limerick City projects above involved lead pipes replacement.

Existing investment in water conservation has, to date, largely focused on local authorities putting in place water management systems to allow for active leakage control and better planning of mains rehabilitation. This investment provides the platform for more intensive investment in mains rehabilitation, including the replacement of eligible lead pipes/connections, and will be a key priority under the next phase of the Water Services Investment Programme for the period 2010 to 2012. My Department is currently finalising a review of the programme to ensure that capital expenditure is more focused on priority schemes to meet national environmental and economic objectives.

The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 to 2012, which I will be publishing shortly, will build on existing investment in water conservation, by providing for a very substantial scaling up of activity on mains rehabilitation. My aim is to substantially increase investment in water conservation under the new programme to provide for the commencement of contracts with a value of over €300 million to commence over the next three years.