Written answers

Tuesday, 5 March 2019

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Water Quality

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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573. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the response of his Department to the letter of formal notice sent in July 2018 from the EU Commission for failing to fulfil its obligations under the drinking water directive (Council Directive 98/83/EC) and allowing exceedance of the parametric value for trihalomethanes. [10255/19]

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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On 19 July 2018, the European Commission issued a Letter of Formal Notice to Ireland due to exceedances of trihalomethanes (THMs) levels in some drinking water supplies.  The Commission requested that Ireland submit its observations within two months of receipt of the letter (i.e. by 20 September 2018) which was extended to 20 October 2018 at Ireland’s request.

Ireland’s response to the Letter of Formal Notice on 19 October 2018 highlighted the significant progress that has already been made in addressing THM exceedences at public water supplies.  All exceedances in public drinking water supplies will have been addressed by the end of 2021, with the exception of Lough Talt, where there are particular planning issues.  It pointed to the progress made in relation to the 24 group water supplies of which 11 (serving 12,173 persons) have now been addressed and the remainder which will be resolved by the end of 2020.  The response also notified the Commission of the Irish Water procedures now in place for informing consumers served by supplies listed on the EPA Remedial Action List.  This addresses the requirements of Article 8 of the Drinking Water Directive in relation to informing the public about THM exceedences and providing the necessary advice on the precautions to be taken to protect public health.

My Department has not had any further formal correspondence from the Commission since the reply was issued.

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