Drinking water concerns not affecting group schemes

Further to Dónal Hickey’s article re threats to drinking water (Nov 12), I wish to point out that the National Federation of Group Water Schemes met the HSE and the EPA in October to discuss growing concerns about the dangerous VTEC strain of E.coli in water supplies.

Notwithstanding our lead article from Rural Water News, we were somewhat perplexed at the reports of a significant rise in contamination in group water schemes (in addition to private supplies), as we were hearing little if anything about this from the 376 privately-sourced schemes that come under the Drinking Water Regulations.

Following discussion, it emerged that the problem is actually on those communal drinking water supplies that serve many new housing developments the length and breadth of Ireland. These are not group water schemes in the accepted sense of the term (ie community-owned and community-run drinking water supplies).