A total of 24 private group schemes failed to meet the E. coli standard in 2024.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its Drinking Water Quality in Private Group Schemes and Small Private Supplies 2024 report which found that this figure has risen from just 13 in 2022.
Currently, over 370 private group schemes supply drinking water to 193,000 people across rural communities in Ireland.
There are almost 1,700 small private supplies registered with local authorities. However, many more are not registered.
A gap in current drinking water legislation means the regulations do not require private suppliers to register.
Safety checks
Micheál Lehane, EPA director said: “Everyone has the right to safe drinking water. We want to see mandatory registration, but in the interim, we strongly encourage private suppliers to register with local authorities, so that all proper safety checks can be carried out on their supply.”
“Without registration and subsequent monitoring by local authorities, consumers are unaware of the potential health risk they may be exposed to.”
Testing
Meeting E.coli standards is a minimum requirement in the provision of safe drinking water and failures indicate a lack of proper disinfection which must be addressed by water suppliers.
Six schemes had repeat failures over two consecutive years and five of these are on long-term boil water notices.
E.coli failures were recorded in 51 small private supplies that were monitored by local authorities, posing a risk to consumers that use these supplies.
In addition, 19 private group schemes supplying 21,800 people failed the standard for Trihalomethanes (THMs) last year.
Trihalomethanes (THMs) can form when natural material like leaves or other organic matter in the water source, react with chlorine used to disinfect the drinking water.
This shows little change from 2023 when 21 schemes supplying 22,000 people failed the standard.
Read more
Over 99% of drinking water of good standard - EPA
Farmers face hike in water charges
A total of 24 private group schemes failed to meet the E. coli standard in 2024.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its Drinking Water Quality in Private Group Schemes and Small Private Supplies 2024 report which found that this figure has risen from just 13 in 2022.
Currently, over 370 private group schemes supply drinking water to 193,000 people across rural communities in Ireland.
There are almost 1,700 small private supplies registered with local authorities. However, many more are not registered.
A gap in current drinking water legislation means the regulations do not require private suppliers to register.
Safety checks
Micheál Lehane, EPA director said: “Everyone has the right to safe drinking water. We want to see mandatory registration, but in the interim, we strongly encourage private suppliers to register with local authorities, so that all proper safety checks can be carried out on their supply.”
“Without registration and subsequent monitoring by local authorities, consumers are unaware of the potential health risk they may be exposed to.”
Testing
Meeting E.coli standards is a minimum requirement in the provision of safe drinking water and failures indicate a lack of proper disinfection which must be addressed by water suppliers.
Six schemes had repeat failures over two consecutive years and five of these are on long-term boil water notices.
E.coli failures were recorded in 51 small private supplies that were monitored by local authorities, posing a risk to consumers that use these supplies.
In addition, 19 private group schemes supplying 21,800 people failed the standard for Trihalomethanes (THMs) last year.
Trihalomethanes (THMs) can form when natural material like leaves or other organic matter in the water source, react with chlorine used to disinfect the drinking water.
This shows little change from 2023 when 21 schemes supplying 22,000 people failed the standard.
Read more
Over 99% of drinking water of good standard - EPA
Farmers face hike in water charges
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