E.coli ‘in third of private wells’

Almost one third of private wells in Ireland are contam inated by E.coli from human and animal waste, making the water unsafe to drink.

The findings are highlighted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to raise awareness of the health risks.

Ireland has the highest number of Verotoxigenic E.coli (VTEC) — a particularly nasty form of E.coli, and the HSE said the number of cases was increasing.

Since 2011, the HSE has reported a doubling of the number of VTEC cases in Ireland (284 in 2011, 554 in 2012 and 704 in 2013).

An analysis of VTEC cases has found that patients are up to four times more likely to have consumed untreated water from private wells.

The EPA is urging private well owners to use their new assessment tool — Protect Your Well — to assess whether they are putting their health, or the health of family and visitors, at risk.

EPA programme manager, David Flynn, said people should not assume that because their water came from a well or a spring it was completely safe to drink.

“We estimate that up to 50,000 private wells in Ireland are contaminated with human or animal waste and this can cause a significant threat to people’s health,” said Mr Flynn.

“Sometimes, we find that people can develop immunity themselves, but visitors to the house, particularly children and the elderly are at risk of getting very sick.”

On rare occasions, VTEC infection can be fatal.

Disinfection kills all E.coli, including VTEC and, while public water supplies are disinfected, not all private wells are.

For further information visit www.epa.ie.