Epa concern for kingcourt water supply

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) have voiced concern over delays in the upgrade of the Kingscourt public water supply.

In the latest revision of the EPA's Remedial Action List of public drinking water supplies, the authority has highlighted 109 supplies in the country serving a combined total of 936,840 individuals remain on the priority list, of which one is located in Co. Cavan.

The Kingscourt public water supply is currently on the EPA’s priority list as the HSE had identified that the 1950s plant was in need of upgrading. The Kingscourt water treatment plant also supplies the Ballinaclose public supply in Co. Meath.

The purpose of the EPA’s Remedial Action List for public drinking water supplies is to focus Irish Water’s attention on resolving the most serious deficiencies in public water supplies.

Commenting on public water supplies in Co. Cavan, EPA Inspector, Ruth Barrington said: “Since its inception in 2008, the EPA’s Remedial Action List has proven to be a very effective method for prioritising supplies, ensuring that investment goes where it is needed most urgently. There are currently 2,125 consumers served by the Kingscourt and Ballinaclose public water supplies which are on the Remedial Action List. The timeframe identified by Irish Water for completion of the necessary improvements on the supply has seen significant delays which is disappointing. The EPA has commenced a programme of targeted enforcement in relation to supplies where progress is inadequate to ensure that all remaining supplies are made safe and secure.”

Nationally, Irish Water manages a total of 973 public water supplies. The latest update from Irish Water indicates that completion dates for 45 of the 109 supplies remaining on the priority list have been delayed. The EPA has commenced a programme of targeted enforcement in relation to supplies where progress is inadequate to ensure that all remaining supplies on the priority list are made safe and secure. Irish Water is in the process of addressing these issues on an individual supply basis and developing national strategies to tackle them in a consistent manner across the country.

The EPA, as the Regulator, is actively overseeing this work.

The complete list of public water supplies currently on Remedial Action List (including details of the proposed remedial measures and associated timeframes) and the EPA Drinking Water Report 2013 are available on the EPA website.

The EPA will publish its next report on Drinking Water for the year 2014 towards the end of the year.