Factory staff wary of water after uranium found in local supply
“About a month ago everybody here was complaining about the taste of the tea in the canteen,” Michael Patterson, who works at the local Wampher facility, said yesterday.
“For about a week nobody would drink the tea or the coffee, because the water was absolutely dreadful. All they’d drink was bottled water or milk,” Michael, a father of three young children, recalled.
“It’s only now you hear stories. People tell you they think this was known about last April or May but is only coming to light now.”
On Wednesday, Wicklow Co Council shut down Lathaleere well, which supplied one-fifth of the town’s needs. It is located just about 100 yards from the Wampher factory on the Kiltegan road. Tests revealed the concentration of uranium 238 was 65 times above the safety level laid down by the World Health Organisation.
The council, which is bringing in fresh water by tanker to the 200 homes who got their supplies from the problem well, informed local people they had shut down the well because uranium was found there.
This was recommended by the South Western Area Health Board after a nationwide water testing programme by the Environmental Protection Agency confirmed very high levels of uranium 238 in the Lathaleere well.
Dr Brian O’Herlihy, acting director of health, Eastern Regional Health Authority, said it was likely people had been exposed to the levels of uranium for many years and it had not caused identifiable health problems.
Currently, there are no national or EU guidelines governing the levels of uranium 238 in drinking water.
It is thought that uranium, a naturally occurring metal which is radioactive, could have occurred naturally through the dissolving of local rock. The council will continue to supply fresh water by tanker to the affected 200 homes.
The Patterson family, who live on the far side of town, found their own water supply cut off as the council attempted to conserve supplies and ensure everybody in the town has water. “Some of the women here in the factory, with small babies, don’t know what they can do with the water,” said Michael.
Factory general manager Brian Bible said: “We’re using a private supply for making tea and coffee for the workforce. My main concern is looking after the people in the company.
“I’m also concerned from my own wellbeing and health - because I drink the water and tea here in the company.
“The first experience I had that there was something wrong with the water was when the county council notice was sent in through the door this morning,” said Brian.
A. It’s a naturally occurring, radioactive metal and widespread in nature. Present in the ocean and certain types of rocks, levels are high where radon levels are high and underlying rock is mostly granite.
A. Experts believe it happens through the dissolving of rock. In parts of the US and Canada, natural uranium levels in water are particularly high due to sedimentary rocks in those areas.
A. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland says uranium does not appear to be a health issue. However, in high doses, there is a risk of kidney damage which may clear up when exposure ceases.
