In January of this year the EPA released Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland: A Report for the Years 2006 – 2007. Based on the results of over 220,000 individual analyses of drinking water samples, it is the first report since the EPA was given new powers under the EC Drinking Water Regulations.  A finding in the report was that 339 public water supplies required examination from source to consumer to determine whether replacements or upgrades were needed, or whether operational practices should be improved.  These water supplies are currently being placed on a Remedial Action List. 

A water supply is included on the RAL for one or more of the following reasons:

• Failure to meet the E. coli standard at some point in the last two years;
• Inadequate treatment (e.g. no treatment other than chlorination or poor turbidity removal or excessive levels of aluminium in the treated water);
• Showing elevated levels of nitrate or being unable to meet the new bromate or trihalomethanes standards coming into force at the end of 2008;
• Monitoring results or compliance checks by the EPA that indicate a lack of operational control at the treatment plant and
• Supplies were identified by the Health Service Executive (HSE) where improvements are required.