'It is worrying': Boil water notices and water restrictions impact nearly 200,000 people

Some 100 supplies were impacted by boil water or water restriction notices in 2025, up from 84 a year prior. File picture

The number of boil water notices and water restrictions issued in Ireland increased last year, with almost 200,000 people impacted.

In its latest report on drinking water quality in public supplies, the Environmental Protection Agency said our drinking water continues to meet high standards with its “at risk” supplies falling between 2024 and 2025.

However, 100 supplies were impacted by boil water or water restriction notices in 2025, up from 84 a year prior as the EPA said Uisce Éireann must improve treatment plant resilience to changing weather conditions and other factors.

“It is worrying that almost 200,000 people were affected by water restrictions in 2025,” its programme manager Noel Byrne said. “While necessary to protect public health, they are a considerable inconvenience for consumers and point to a lack of resilience in water treatment.

“Uisce Éireann must make water treatment plants more robust, so they can withstand treatment challenges and continue to provide a safe water supply for consumers. Where restrictions are necessary, Uisce Éireann must respond quickly so that a compliant water supply is restored as soon as possible.” 

The EPA’s report also delves into wider challenges facing the water supply network. This includes the level of leakage and replacement of lead pipe work.

It pointed to a leakage assessment from Uisce Éireann in 2024 which calculated that the national water leakage level in Ireland was 36%.

Its assessment of the 25 largest public water supplies put the proportion of water being lost at 33.7% with the potential for a leakage reduction to 26.8% by 2034.

“Reducing leakage is essential to safeguard drinking water supplies, minimise environmental impacts and support the sustainable use of water resources,” the EPA report said. 

“Uisce Éireann should implement actions to expedite the reduction in levels of leakage.” 

However, the EPA was positive about the overall water quality in Ireland, with microbiological limits met in 99.8% of cases and chemical standards met in 99.7% of samples analysed.

In its “at-risk” supplies where it has identified remedial action is needed to secure a safe drinking water supply, 10 were “resolved” in 2025 leaving 35 supplies still on the list.

The watchdog added that Uisce Éireann must allocate resources to complete the required upgrades to these at-risk supplies.