Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures required and the cost thereof to local authorities in Galway, his Department and central Exchequer to resolve the cryptosporidium outbreak in the public water supply of Galway City and county in 2007; and if he will provide similar information on any other outbreaks in any other part of the country with have been identified. [2795/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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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. The Regulations provide that the Environmental Protection Agency (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.

While my Department has in the past issued guidance to local authorities in relation to cryptosporidium in water supplies, since the Regulations came into effect, the EPA is the supervisory authority for public water supplies including cryptosporidium outbreaks. I understand that, in that capacity, the Agency issued a Guidance Booklet Risk Screening Methodology for Cryptosporidium to each local authority in January 2008.

The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2012, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, provides for the commencement of contracts with a value of over €800m in relation to water supply infrastructure. This includes contracts to address deficiencies in the quality of supply, to improve the overall capacity of the system and to provide an accelerated programme of mains rehabilitation. The Programme also provides for the advancement of a further range of schemes through planning, for progression to construction in future investment cycles. Where a significant capital works programme is required to respond to a cryptosporidium risk, funding is provided by my Department under the Water Services Investment Programme. In relation to Galway City and County, the Programme provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water and sewerage services infrastructure, with contracts to commence in the period with an overall value of some €133 million.

A Boil Water Notice was issued on 15 March 2007 in Galway City following the discovery of the cryptosporidium parasite in the City supply. Galway City Council's "old" Terryland water treatment plant was identified as the location where the cryptosporidium parasite entered the water supply system. The Boil Water Notice was lifted on 20 August 2007 after the old Terryland plant was taken out of service.

The lifting of the Boil Water Notice became possible because of (1) the supply of additional water from Galway County Council's Water Treatment Plant at Luimnagh to the City. This increased supply from the County to the City eliminated the need to take water from the old Terryland plant and (2) the provision of additional (including Ultra Violet light disinfection) treatment at the "New" Terryland Plant.

The City Council's proposals for some advance works involving upgrading of the "New" Terryland Water Treatment Plant to cater for the city's medium term needs was approved by the Department in March 2008. The Department subsequently approved funding towards the Council's €3.9 million contract for these advance works in December 2008. These works, which have increased water treatment capacity at the plant by 20,000 cu. metres per day (from 35,000 cu. metres per day to 55,000 cu. metres per day) are now substantially complete.

Since 2007, it is understood that cryptosporidium has been detected and precautionary boil water notices were issued for short periods on some water supplies, but there has not been an outbreak of confirmed water-borne cryptosporidium infection of water requiring major Exchequer investment.

The risk of cryptosporidium is one of the factors taken into consideration by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in compiling the "Remedial Action List" which identifies public water supplies which required detailed profiling to ensure that the supply is providing clean and wholesome water. EPA guidance, issued in 2008, identified the actions to be taken by local authorities when a supply is included on the Remedial Action List. These actions could include abandoning or replacing sources, upgrading treatment facilities or improving operational and maintenance arrangements.

Where an upgrade of facilities was identified as the appropriate solution, local authorities can seek grant aid through a special package of measures which my Department introduced in 2007. In addition to funding through the Water Services Investment Programme, this package included a new contingency funding arrangement under the Small Schemes Measure of the Rural Water Programme for schemes below the Water Services Investment Programme minimum cost threshold. Allocations of some €28 million has been approved for this purpose since 2008.

It is also open to local authorities to provide protection measures against cryptosporidium under the Small Schemes Measure of my Department's Rural Water Programme. Responsibility for the administration of this programme has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection and approval of individual schemes for funding and advancement under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to the block grant allocation provided, is therefore a matter for the water services authorities.