Tests by Irish Water have found lead concentrations 15 times the limit deemed safe to consume in drinking water in one area in Co Roscommon.
That’s according to today’s Irish Times.
Audits in recent years by Irish Water found 33 cases where drinking water had lead concentrations above the safe limit of 10 micrograms (µg) per litre , with each case reported to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The highest levels of lead in drinking water were found during a test of drinking water from a tap in one part of Co Roscommon, which was 148µg when a sample was tested in 2020.
Noel Byrne, programme manager with the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement, says the problematic supplies need to be addressed.
'The department are completing a review of the rural water service at the moment and the purpose of this really is to provide direction and support to water suppliers.
So we really would like to see that this review is completed and then recommendations are implemented to improve drinking water quality of these private supplies.
An example of this would be 'what can be done to ensure funding gets used?', so that you address the problematic supplies.'
