The Irish Times view on private water supplies: Not up to standard

More than a fifth of the Irish population receive drinking water from private supplies, including 417 group water schemes, 1,778 small private supplies registered with local authorities and some 180,000 private wells that are not regulated.

The latest Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assessment of water from these sources, which mainly arise in rural areas, confirms an unacceptable level of public health risk for many thousands of people. There are too many instances where significant supplies go unmonitored or there is lack of robust governance at local authority level. In 2019, 108 of 417 private group schemes and 1,418 small private supplies monitored did not comply with required standards due to E. coli contamination. Some 340 small private supplies were not monitored so it is impossible to know if these supplies were safe. Yet many supplies are in commercial outlets such as small hotels and B&Bs; others serve national schools and creches.

All this should be seen in the context of Ireland having one of the highest rates of illness caused by E. coli and related pathogens in Europe, according to An Fóram Uisce, a statutory body acting in consumers' interests. Local authorities have responsibility to ensure registered supplies are monitored, it pointed out. At least the EPA found progress on group water scheme upgrades after the Department of Housing drew up a remedial action list in 2016.

How land is managed is critical when it comes to surface waters, which make up the majority of supplies. The National Federation of Group Water Schemes is working with authorities and the department to address this issue with emphasis on protecting drinking waters. An Fóram Uisce has proposed a framework for integrated land and landscape management to address all of the "ecosystem services" provided within a catchment whereby communities, stakeholders and agencies work together to protect natural waters and ecosystems. The case for it is overwhelming, as confirmed by the latest indications of inadequate infrastructure and and poor monitoring.