Drinking Water Report for Public Supplies 2017

Summary: This report is about the quality of drinking water in public water supplies during 2017. It is based on the assessment of monitoring results reported to the EPA by Irish Water, and on the EPA's enforcement activities.

Key Findings for 2017

Quality of public Water Supplies

• The quality of drinking water in public supplies remains high
• Microbiological compliance is better than 99.9%
• Chemical compliance is 99.6%
• Half of boil water notices issued in 2017 were short-term notices, in place for less than 30 days.

Main issues affecting water quality

• High levels of disinfection by-products
• Persistent pesticide failures in some supplies
• Large numbers of lead pipe connections in properities

Progress in 2017

• EPA Remedial Action List down from 99 supplies in 2016 to 77 supplies during 2017
• Disinfection upgrades were completed at 81 drinking water treatment plants
• Irish Water completed almost 25,000 Drinking Water Safety Plan hazard assessments in 2017

Action Required

• Continue to upgrade disinfection treatment under the National Disinfection Strategy
• Replace lead pipework in public buildings and private homes
• Put Drinking Water Safety Plans in place to protect supplies into the future

Related Documents

• Drinking Water Quality Public Supplies 2017 - Infographic