Irish Water has 11 weeks to decide plea in EPA case

Irish Water has been given 11 weeks to decide how it will plead to failing to implement a plan to improve drinking water quality in Carraroe in Co Galway.

The utility is being prosecuted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The case was listed before Judge John O’Neill yesterday at Dublin District Court where an adjournment was granted. A solicitor for the EPA told the court that there was consent to the case being put back to September.

At the next appearance it will be listed for a plea to be entered or for a hearing date to be fixed if the case is contested, Judge John O’Neill ordered.

The company is charged under EU drinking water regulations that between December 1, 2015, and January 8, 2016, it failed to comply with a directive issue by the EPA to implement an action programme approved by the agency for the improvement of the quality of water for human consumption from Carraroe public water supply, to react to parametric values specified for trihalomethanes.

It is alleged the action plan had been approved by the EPA on September 9, 2014. Irish Water has not yet indicated how it will plead.

Last month, a solicitor for the EPA said that they would be providing disclosure of evidence to Irish Water.

Earlier this year residents in the Connemara village received boil water notices.