Uisce Eireann failed to notify the Environmental Protection Agency of two metal exceedances in a South East-Clare drinking water supply earlier this year.
An EPA audit of the Shannon/Sixmilebridge Water Treatment Plant has found that recommendations from a previous inspection had not been satisfactorily addressed by the utility.
The audit was carried out on the 24th of April to assess the performance of Uisce Éireann in providing clean and wholesome water to the Shannon/Sixmilebridge public supply which serves a population of 21,623 people.
The inspection came just weeks after the allowable level of the metal manganese in drinking water supply was breached in the supply for the fourth time this year.
According to the HSE, exposure to high levels of the metal in drinking water can affect the nervous system.
Uisce Eireann failed to notify the EPA of two of these incidents which occurred on January 17th and February 8th respectively and not doing so is an offence under the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2023.
Uisce Eireann only informed the EPA of the first breach eight days after it happened, while the second failure has yet to be reported.
Currently the permitted level of manganeese in Irish drinking water is 50mg (Micrograms) per litre, though this level has reached as high as 89mg per litre on the Shannon/Sixmilebridge supply this year.
In the audit, the EPA questioned if the treatment plant was optimised for the removal of manganese and if the sludge arising from the treatment processes was adequately managed and a verdict of ‘no’ was returned in each case.
Uisce Eireann stated the picket fence thickener was operating at 70% over capacity and as a result sludge is being pumped to a nearby sewerage treatment plant in Limerick for disposal.
According to Uisce Eireann, the sludge treatment plant was not operational at the time of the audit due to essential maintenance.
Ultimately Uisce Eireann was ordered to implement eight recommendations to ensure water quality on the Shannon/Sixmilebridge Water Supply without delay.
Statement From Uisce Éireann
“Uisce Éireann’s priority at all times is the provision of safe, secure drinking water to our customer. We continue to engage closely with the EPA and HSE in order to reduce risks to drinking water quality and protect public health. All exceedances, once confirmed, are notified to the EPA and the HSE consulted.
Remedial actions have been taken at the Sixmilebridge Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and on the Shannon Sixmilebridge RWS, including increased sampling at the plant and on the network, a network flushing programme, optimisations to the treatment process for manganese removal. Upgrades to the Sixmilebridge WTP are currently being scoped with consideration being given to further enhancements to the treatment process.
Significant progress has been made in improving the management of Ireland’s drinking water network, which comprises over 700 water treatment plants and over 63,000 km of pipes. It is important to note that 99.7% of the water we produce meets or exceeds the required water quality standards.
We are committed to continuous improvement in the management of drinking water quality through improved oversight and monitoring of all water treatment plants nationwide. We have also developed robust procedures to allow timely reporting of any risks to treatment processes in order to protect public health.
The most recent EPA Drinking Water Report recognises the ongoing improvements made by Uisce Éireann in testing, monitoring and assessing water supplies and the key role this has played in identifying risks to drinking water quality, ensuring a safer water supply for all.
Where Uisce Éireann becomes aware of any issues through our rigorous testing process, we take prompt action to resolve these issues and, in consultation with the HSE, inform customers of any recommended measures to be taken to protect public health. Customers who have any queries or concerns about their water quality can contact our customer care centre 24/7 at 1800 278 278.”
