The quality of drinking water remains high, but supplies must become more resilient, says EPA.
The quality of drinking water from public supplies remains very high, with over 99.8% of samples compliant with standards.
There are 45 supplies serving 497,000 people on the EPA’s list of ‘at-risk’ supplies (Remedial Action List) that need to be addressed by Uisce Eireann. This is down from 57 supplies (serving 561,000 people) in 2023.
The were 33 long-term boil water notices in 2024, down one-third from 2023.
Progress to protect public health by removing lead from our supply networks and houses is still far too slow.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies Report 2024, released today, shows that over 99.8% of samples from public water supplies comply with bacterial and chemical limits, which means our public water is safe to drink.
Launching the report, Dr Micheál Lehane, EPA Director said: “Our public water quality remains very high. This means that the public can remain confident that drinking water supplied to their homes is safe to drink. While I welcome the decrease in the number of people served by ‘at-risk’ supplies, the EPA – through our audit programme – continues to identify supplies that lack adequate resilience. Uisce Éireann needs to implement the findings of Risk Assessments to improve the resilience of supplies and maintain the quality of our drinking water. Long-term sustained investment in water services infrastructure is required to provide this resilience into the future.”
Good progress has been made in other areas such as disinfection, and completion of Risk Assessments (Drinking Water Safety Plans) but progress on removing lead from the supply network remains far too slow. Regarding lead in drinking water, Mr Noel Byrne, EPA Programme Manager, said: “Lead in our drinking water is a cumulative risk to human health and must be removed from our supply network. The risk is greatest for young children, infants and babies in the womb. Despite Ireland having a National Lead Strategy in place since 2015, progress to date has been far too slow. The legal limit for lead in our drinking water will halve in 2036 (from 10ugl to 5ug/l) – so much greater focus is needed by Government Departments and Uisce Éireann to remove lead from the supply network and public buildings. The EPA welcomes the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage commitment to review progress in 2025.”
However, many supplies still lack robust treatment to guarantee their long-term resilience. The EPA’s Remedial Action List identifies ‘at-risk’ supplies that require improvements to safeguard public health. In 2024 there has been a reduction in the number of people served by supplies on the Remedial Action List – down to almost 497,000 (from 561,000 in 2023). At the end of 2024, there were seven supplies that remained on the RAL for over two years and, while an action programme is currently being defined by Uisce Éireann for these supplies, a completion date has yet to be provided. The EPA has taken enforcement action in 2024 against Uisce Éireann by issuing 20 legally binding directions for supplies on the Remedial Action List. This is to ensure long-term improvements are carried out in the timeframe proposed. Supplies on the RAL must be addressed as a priority for Uisce Éireann.
List of supplies currently on a Boil Water Notice (BWN) in Tipperary as of 1st July 2025.
“Plus ca change, plus c’est la même chose” or “the more things change, the more they stay the same”, is a proverb usually attributed to the French critic, journalist, and novelist Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, (1808-1890) who used it in 1849.
Then perhaps Karr had come to this conclusion, having read Ecclesiastes (Ch. 1-Verses. 9-10-11), latter literature contained in the Christian Old Testament.
(9) “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”. (10)Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new?It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time“. (11)“No one remembers the former generations, and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them”.
So what brought all this on I hear you ask?
L-R: (1) Small, one handed, Gardener’s lawn ‘Daisy Grubber‘. (2)Head only of a large 17th century, two handed, farm labourer’s ‘Grubber’.
I was looking at some gardening equipment on line; in search of something to remove unwanted growth from my small grass lawn area, when I spotted a small hand held ‘Gardener’s Daisy Grubber’.
This small ‘Daisy Grubber’ reminded me of a blacksmith made, spade size, Grubber, used back in the 17th/18th/19th century, also used to remove stubborn, deep-rooted, Thistle and Dock roots from corn fields, prior to harvesting. The immediate removal, back then, ensured that the seeds of both weeds would not end up amongst oat and barley seed, being trashed and due for sowing the following spring.
This spade size, ancient Grubber would take on an alternative use during the middle of the 19th century; becoming useful to those employed by Irish landlords and their agents, to assist in evicting tenants.
A forced Irish eviction using a battering ram, taking place in the mid-19th century, being strongly defended by the tenants residing within.
Those tenants either failing to pay or unable to pay their rent were evicted, often by force, from their homes. This same agricultural Grubber, whose teeth resemble a modern day claw hammer, was used to remove nails/spikes from roof timbers. Once the nails/spikes were removed/drawn, the thatched roof on such dwellings could be easily collapsed; ensuring that the evicted tenants could not return to seek shelter over future nights.
FSAI recall a batch of Dairy Farm Vanilla Ice Cream due to chemical smell and taste from the product.
Alert Summary dated Friday, April 4th 2025.
Category 1: For Action Alert Notification: 2025.17 Product Identification: Dairy Farm Vanilla Ice Cream tub; pack size: 1 litre; approval number: IE 1065 EC Batch Code: L24356B; best before date: June 2026 Country Of Origin: Ireland
Message: The above batch of Dairy Farm Vanilla Ice Cream is being recalled due to some customers experiencing a chemical smell and/or taste from the product. Point-of-sale recall notices will be displayed in Lidl stores.
Action Required: Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batch.
Note: At the best of times, according to the independent YUKA App. the above product, when scanned by Thurles.Info, contains Mono-and diglycerides of fatty acids, latter a high risk texturizing agent which provides consistency, maintains or modifies the texture of this product. This additive we are informed, could in cases of high consumption, increase the risk of developing cancers and cardiovascular diseases. It is also suspected of disrupting gut flora , which could lead to an increased risk of autoimmune and allergic diseases, as well as inflammatory diseases.
This product also contains Locust bean gum; Guar gum and E415. These additives/texturizing agents used as emulsifiers are believed to also alter gut microbiota. A recent Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale(INSERM) study, [latter the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research], found that such emulsifiers may be associated with the development of breast cancer. However, it is also accepted that further studies are required with regards to this latter claim.
Now comes the questions: (1) With this research knowledge readily available; why are Irish manufacturers allowed to use these additives/texturizing agents in such products? (2) Why are Shops/Supermarkets continuing to sell such products? (3) Could the removal of such additives/texturizing agents from our food, reduce hospital overcrowding and patient waiting time for beds?
We have forwarded these three questions to the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, Mr Martin Heydon TD. (martin.heydon@oir.ie) and to the Minister for Health, Ms Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD (jennifer.carrollmacneill@oireachtas.ie); seeking early replies.
There has been a welcome reduction in nitrogen levels in rivers in 2024, says Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Early Insights Nitrogen Indicator for 2024, published by the EPA, shows that nitrogen levels in rivers have reduced in 2024.
Despite the reduction, nitrogen remains too high in the southeastern half of the country and further reductions will be needed to bring them to satisfactory levels.
Agriculture is the primary source of nitrogen in our waters. Significant actions are underway by the sector to reduce nitrogen losses.
Ongoing and sustained actions will be needed to reduce nutrient levels so that the ecological health of our waters can improve.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published early insights into nitrogen levels in rivers in 2024. The Early Insights Nitrogen Indicator 2024 has been developed to provide more timely information on nitrogen levels and is based on monitoring data at 20 major and representative rivers. Overall, the early insights indicator shows that nitrogen levels have improved in 2024. However, nitrogen remains too high in the southeastern half of the country. Agriculture is the primary source of nitrogen in these areas.
Commenting on the report, Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment, said: “The EPA continually strives to produce timely information and evidence on Ireland’s environment. Specifically, this publication responds to a need for early insights into trends in nitrogen levels. Agriculture is the primary source of nitrogen in Irish rivers and there is significant action underway within the sector to improve water quality. It is therefore very welcome to see these early signs of improvement. It is important that the sector builds on this momentum and continues to implement actions to reduce nutrient losses in a targeted way.”
The EPA will publish its three-yearly assessment of water quality in Ireland, for the period 2019 – 2024, later in 2025. This future report will combine data on nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in waterbodies, with the biological quality monitoring data on fish, aquatic insects and plants, to give a comprehensive assessment of the ecological health of all waters.
Ms Jenny Deakin, EPA Programme Manager, added: “It is very positive to see this improvement in nitrogen levels in 2024, following a period of little positive change in recent years. However, nitrogen levels remain too high in the southeastern half of the country. Further actions will be necessary to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus losses to levels which will support good ecological health in our water bodies. The ecology will not improve until nutrient levels are reduced in the areas where they are elevated. The EPA will be reporting on the ecological health of our waters later in 2025.”
The Early Insights Nitrogen Indicator 2024 report is now available on the EPA website.
Further information on local water quality and targeting agricultural measures is available on the EPA website.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Recent Comments