Nitrate Levels in Irish Rivers Too High

A recent report from the Irish EPA shows that almost half of Irish rivers (47%), almost a quarter of groundwater (24%) and one fifth of estuary and coastal water bodies (21%) have nitrogen levels that are too high.

It noted that most of the rivers in Cork, Limerick (Golden Vale), Tipperary, Waterford and other farming areas of the south of Ireland are under pressure with excessive nitrogen caused by farming and agricultural activities.

To protect your family’s health and ensure safe drinking water from a private water well, we recommend installing a water filtration system. For home owners with their own private water well, a Government grant is available to assist with protecting and maintaining private household water wells or installing water filtration, water purification or disinfection systems.

The first step to determine the type of water filter or disinfection (UV system) you need is to test your water supply.

At Liam Chawke Electrical & Water Pumps, we supply and install water filter solutions. 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.

Antibiotics in Tap Water A Growing Concern For Ireland

A new research report from the Irish EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) shows how antibiotics are getting into the environment, particularly water sources and looks at the possible effects of antibiotics in the environment on human health. It is now commonplace for antibiotics to fail or not work as intended, which was unheard of 20 years ago. The immediate public health concern discussed in the report, considers the effect of antibiotics in water and how microbes in water change to become more antibiotic resistant.

The increased use of antibiotics is influenced by an increasing and aging population, longer survival of people with complex illnesses, changes in food production systems, farming practices and other social and economic factors. Effluent from hospitals can be heavily contaminated with antibiotics and pathogens. Modern farming practices rely heavily on antibiotics, used as preventative medication to keep animals alive and healthy in confined spaces such as in intensive dairy farms, piggeries, broiler houses, poultry farms and anywhere animals are confined in close cramped conditions. The antibiotics are usually included in processed animal feed or administered directly into farm animals such as dairy cows in large dairy herds. Animal waste from chickens, cows and pigs in confined conditions includes a number of potentially harmful pollutants including nitrogen, phosphorus, antibiotics, pathogens and hormones. For people living in rural areas such as the Golden Vale and other intensive farming areas, an effective home water filtration system is a great way to protect home drinking water from water borne contamination including antibiotics previously used to treat animals or humans.

The new report from the Irish Environmental Protection Agency is entitled “Hospital Effluent: Impact on the Microbial Environment & Risk to Human Health” and it goes into great detail on the threat to Irish water by antibiotic-resistant bacteria…Read More