Friends of the Irish Environment said while the EPA claimed 99.2% compliance with chemical standards, their analysis showed 598,951 consumers were being supplied with drinking water over the recommended World Health Organisation and European Commission’s recommended limits for trihalomethanes (THMs).
THMs are formed when organic matter, such as suspended peat sediment, are treated with chlorine at water treatment plants.
THMs are harmful to human health and include known carcinogens like chloroform.
They are ingested by drinking, but can be inhaled in the bath or shower, or when washing clothes and dishes.
Friends of the Irish Environment said its 2011 submission showed that 24 counties had supplies breaching EU and WHO THM limits, with 14 counties having supplies double the THM limit, and one water supply, Ring, in Co Waterford, recording THM levels nine times the WHO/EU limit.
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Friends of the Irish Environment’s findings also prompted a warning from US environmentalist Erin Brockovitch that people had a right to know.
For various reasons, the European Commission didn’t begin an infringement case against Ireland until last July and it outlined what needed to be done.
Irish Water previously contacted customers only if there was a problem with their drinking water that was likely to cause an immediate risk to health.
Houses and businesses in 16 counties on 55 water supply schemes will receive a detailed booklet outlining the issues with their water supply such as elevated THMs; inadequate barriers for cryptosporidium; poor turbidity removal; or the presence of low levels of pesticides.