Elevated levels of bacteria and THMs in local water supplies

Two local water supplies, those in Mitchelstown and in Burncourt-Ballylooby, appear on the most recent Remedial Action List from Irish Water.

The Remedial Action list is a record, published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), of the public water supplies known to be at risk. The EPA requires that Irish Water take corrective action.

Burncourt-Ballylooby, which serves over 1,800 people, was added to the list last year for ‘Inadequate Treatment for Cryptosporidium’. Commonly known as ‘ Crypto’, Cryptosporidium is a bacteria that can cause diarrhoea in animals and humans.

On foot of the EPA’s recommendation, Irish Water are currently undertaking works at Ballylooby to install a new UV treatment plant. The plant is due for commissioning and testing this month, and Irish Water forecasts a completion date of March 2022

A second water supply plant, Mitchelstown North, was added to the list in recent months. It supplies water to 2,379 people, and is identified for having ‘elevated Levels of THMs’ in the supply. THMs, or Trihalomethanes, are formed when chlorine reacts with organic material in the water. The HSE claim that ‘the benefits of using chlorine to treat our drinking water are much greater than any possible health risk from THMs’, but admit that THMs are ‘possibly carcinogenic’.

Irish Water are at the moment investigating what needs to be done to address the issue at Mitchelstown North, and will confirm a timeframe in the next three months.

There are 52 water supply plants currently requiring remedial action from Irish Water.