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One Midlands County Shows Up On EPA 'Remedial List'

Tuesday, 1 August 2023 07:25

Nearly half a million people nationally are drinking from supplies on the list.

Those drinking tap water in one midlands county will be given pause for thought after the release of the EPA's latest 'Water Quality' report.

Offaly is the the only midlands county to show up on the EPA's remedial list which is defined as a priority list of 'at risk' drinking water supplies.

Action is being taken, with a new €10m water treatment plant being constructed for the summer of 2024.

Nationally, a total of 481,000 people are drinking water in districts that find themselves on the EPA's remedial list.

Noel Byrne is a project manager with the EPA, he says he wants to see Uisce Eireann being more pro-active:


Meanwhile all three midlands counties came under boil water notices over the course of 2022, according to the EPA latest report.

The largest number of people affected by a notice was in Westmeath, where 11,288 residents were asked to avoid drinking tap water  due to 'inadequate treatment'.

That notice in Athlone lasted just one day.

In Laois, 202 people were restricted in Rosenallis for just over a month from November to December due to 'turbidity' or a lack of clarity in the water.

While there were two notices in Offaly.

The last week of May last year saw just four people were asked to boil their water in Shinrone/Brosna from the start of October to mid-December while in North Tullamore another four residents came under a notice for the last week of May.

Both instances were due to bacteria in the water.

Despite these, and many further notices nationally, Noel Byrne believes progress is being made:

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