Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he is taking to ensure that Ireland is complying with European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations (No.2) 2007 (SI 278 of 2007); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15956/10]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the details of the new powers which have been assigned to local authorities to enforce the European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations (No. 2) 2007 (SI 278 of 2007); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15957/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions No. 41 and 53 together.

Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) (No. 2) Regulations, 2007, it is the duty of suppliers of drinking water "to take the necessary measures to ensure that water intended for human consumption is wholesome and clean and meets the requirements of [the] Regulations."

Statutory controls were strengthened under the Regulations to underpin comprehensive supervision and monitoring regimes for both local authority and group water scheme supplies. The Regulations provide that the EPA is the supervisory authority for drinking water supplied by water services authorities (the 34 county and city councils). The Regulations also provide that the water services authorities are responsible for the supervision of group water and private water supplies in their functional areas. The Regulations provide the relevant supervisory authority with powers of direct intervention, if required, to ensure that measures are taken to achieve compliance with prescribed water quality standards. Circular letter WSP 7/07, which provided guidance regarding the implementation of the new Regulations, was issued to all waters services authorities by my Department on 30 July 2007.

The EPA publishes details of its supervisory activities in its annual reports on the quality of drinking water in Ireland. A copy of the Agency's most recent report on drinking water, The Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland – A Report for the Years 2007-2008, is available in the Oireachtas Library. Since the regulations came into force on 12 June 2007, the Agency has issued a number of guidance booklets and advice notes to water services authorities.