Constant pressure forced action on Kerry estate’s lead pipes, claims EPA

Action was only undertaken to replace lead mains pipes in a large Tralee, Co Kerry, estate where lead in drinking water had been four times the accepted norm in response to "constant pressure" from the Environmental Protection Agency, a court has been told.

The EPA is prosecuting Irish Water and Kerry County Council for their failure to complete the replacement of the lead distribution mains at St Brendan’s Park in Tralee. A date has now been set for a full hearing of the matter.

In 2008, a sample of water from a house had 43mg lead per litre of water when the permitted level was 25 mg a litre; in 2014, a sample from a different house in St Brendan’s Park also yielded 43mg lead when permitted levels had dropped to 10 mg per litre, solicitor for the EPA Maeve Larkin outlined at Tralee district court yesterday.