Not All Drinking Water Monitored for Health Risks

Approximately 20% of the population get their drinking water from private supplies, including group water schemes or private wells. In 2016, a lack of monitoring by local authorities resulted in 126 boil water notices being imposed on private water supplies which affected around 7,000 people.

The EPA has criticised the way E.coli testing of private water supplies is done by local authorities. E.coli is a faecal bacteria from animal or human waste which, when ingested, lives in the gut and causes abdominal cramping, watery diarrhoea that may change to bloody stools, and eventually a fever. In can be fatal in people who are sick or the elderly. According to the EPA, E.coli testing was not reported at over 800 private water supplies serving commercial buildings like hotels, B&Bs, pubs or public buildings [like schools, crèches, campsites, nursing homes etc]. These supplies are often more likely to be contaminated with E-Coli.

For homeowners and households worried about contamination in their drinking water supplies, we recommend the installation of a quality point of use water filter or wholehouse water filtration system.

Submit the Contact Form or call us at 069-64318 for more details. To request a water test, just complete the Water Test Request form.

Cryptosporidium Contamination Detected in Mayo Water Supply

Cryptosporidium has been detected in the treated water coming from the Lough Mask Water Treatment Plant in Co Mayo, according to a report in the Mayo News. In line with normal practice, and depending on results from the now daily testing that will occur, this Boil Water Notice could remain in place for approximately two weeks. Cryptosporidium is a parasite that lives in, or on another organism. It can infect the bowels (intestines) and cause cryptosporidiosis. Infection can occur in humans and animals and is often caused by animal manure or farm slurry, particularly slurry from large dairy farms getting into a drinking water source. A quality home water filter system is an effective way to safeguard drinking water supplies from Cryptosporidium and other parasites…Read More

Many Irish Households Facing Boil Water Notices

Many drinking water treatment plants throughout Ireland are in poor condition and facing failure according to Irish Water. Because of stringent new quality guidelines, water is now tested up to six times a year and Irish Water intends to shut down plants and issue boil-water notices if problems emerge. This is unlike how water treatment plants operated in the past, where boil-water notices were implemented after problems were discovered. For many homes in rural areas, a home water filter system would be a good investment in improving the quality of drinking water as well as a safeguard if and when boil water notices are issued. Read More…

Roscommon Relief As Another Boil Water Notice Lifted

Since around 2009, a boil water notice has been in effect for many Co. Roscommon homes. However, even though the boil water notice has just been lifted, one business insists they will keep their new water filtration system. The lifting of the boil water notice follows inspections at the Killeglan and Castlerea water treatment plants by the Irish Environmental Protection Agency. Some customers in Roscommon have had to boil water during this period to make it safe to drink..Read More (PDF)