Councils to face the courts if EU water standards not met

COUNCILS will face prosecution through the courts and massive fines as stiff as €500,000 if they fail to maintain EU standards for drinking water.

Yesterday, outgoing environment minister Mr Dick Roche introduced revised regulations to provide for the increased penalties for contravention of drinking water regulations.

He said the increased penalty provisions are intended to be sufficiently dissuasive to ensure that they are effective.