Bacteria in water supplies poses health risk to thousands of people, warns EPA

The EPA found  20 of the 380 private group water schemes across the country, serving about 2,900 people, were of 'significant concern' because of the levels of E.Coli detected.

Thousands of people using group and private water supplies in Ireland are at risk because of E.coli contamination, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said.

The EPA's latest available data showed that 20 of the 380 private group water schemes across the country, serving about 2,900 people, were of "significant concern" because of the levels of the bacteria detected, while 49 of the 1,225 small private supplies were contaminated.