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Overall, the report details that the quality of public water remains very high.Alamy, file
EPA Water Report
Water supplies for almost 500,000 people ‘at risk’ of disruption
The EPA has said 45 centres serving 497,000 people require “robust treatment to guarantee their long-term resilience”.
8.35am, 2 Jul 2025
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WATER SUPPLIES SERVING almost half-a-million people are “at risk” of disruption and must be addressed by provider Uisce Éireann, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said.
While the number of people whose supply appears on the EPA’s remedial action list fell significantly last year, the agency said 45 centres serving 497,000 people require “robust treatment to guarantee their long-term resilience”.
Seven out of the 45 supplies have been included on the EPA’s list for the last two years. According to a water report, published today, a completion date for remedial works has yet to be provided by Uisce Éireann.
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Lack of action led to the EPA issuing 20 legally binding orders, compelling Uisce Éireann to carry out future-proofing work on supplies included on the remedial action list. It said it took the action to ensure long-term improvements are carried out on time.
Overall, the report details that the quality of public water remains very high and the public should feel confident that the drinking supply at their homes is safe to drink. EPA Director Micheál Lehane said long-term investment is needed to boost resilience.
He added: “Uisce Éireann needs to implement the findings of Risk Assessments to improve the resilience of supplies and maintain the quality of our drinking water.”
Good progress have been made in areas such as disinfection and the completion of risk assessments for drinking water supply safety. However, the removal of lead from the network “remains far too slow”, the EPA said.
Programme manager Noel Byrne said lead in drinking-water supplies must be removed as soon as possible. He said the legal limit will halve in just over ten years’ time, meaning a greater focus is “needed” by government and Uisce Éireann on the issue.
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Muiris O’Cearbhaill
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