E.coli in private water affected 4,600 in 2023, says EPA

EPA director Tom Ryan, said: 'All drinking water produced in Ireland, whether it comes from a public or private supply, should be of high quality.' File picture

Unmonitored private drinking water supplies are a potential risk to public health with approximately 4,600 people being affected by e.coli failures last year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA is warning of the dangers of Ireland's private water supply in its latest report, published on Friday. Furthermore, €38.5m of available Government funding that could have been invested in improvements to private supplies between 2019-2023 was not used.

There are over 370 group water schemes supplying drinking water to 190,000 people across rural communities today. In addition, many commercial and public premises supply water to the public from their own drinking water well.

These are called small private supplies (SPS) and can include schools, creches, nursing homes, self-catering accommodation and sports clubs. 

Only 1,665 SPS are registered with local authorities across the country, and the total number remains unknown. Unregistered supplies are not being monitored by local authorities, creating a potential public health risk for consumers, the EPA says.

One in 20 SPS and private group schemes failed to meet e.coli standards in 2023, with 22 private group schemes also failing to reach the standard — putting 4,600 members of the public at risk as a result.

Trihalomethanes

On top of that, 21 private group schemes supplying 22,000 people failed the standard for Trihalomethanes (THMs), up from 16 schemes serving 16,000 people in 2022. 

The EPA note: "There is a legal limit for THMs which suppliers must meet in order to protect public health. Greater effort is needed by these private group schemes to improve treatment systems and minimise exposure to THMs."

Local authorities

EPA director Tom Ryan, said: “All drinking water produced in Ireland, whether it comes from a public or private supply, should be of high quality. Urgent action is needed by suppliers and local authorities to address these failings in order to protect the public health of consumers.

"Local authorities must take pro-active steps to identify and register small private supplies in their areas and the legislation needs to be amended to make it an offence for a supplier not to be registered, in the interests of public health.” 

The EPA note that some councils have made good efforts to register SPS in their counties — including Cork County Council, which the EPA says has been "very pro-active in registering 369 SPS". Wexford, Meath and Kilkenny County Councils each have over 130 SPS registered.