COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, September 10, 2007
MOTION NO. 6
MOTION: Councillor D. Keating
That the Manager would present a comprehensive report for discussion on the quality of drinking water in South Dublin, including what efforts are being made or are planned, to review the quality of our drinking water with a view to ensuring a high quality of drinking wateris supplied to the residents of South Dublin and what other agencies or authorities are involved in this process.
REPORT:
South Dublin County Council is not a major water producer but purchases treated water from Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council. The vast bulk of the daily requirements (69,000 cu.m) comes from the Dublin City Council water treatment plant at Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, whilst the balance (approx. 1,000 cu.m) is supplied via the Fingal County Council water treatment facility located at Leixlip. A very small supply is also taken from the Dublin City Council run facility at Ballyboden which is used to supply parts of Rathfarnham and Edmondstown in South Dublin County.
South Dublin County Councils principal distribution reservoir is located at Belgard (capacity 100 ML) which supplies most of the County, whilst the other reservoir sited at Peamount (capacity 40 ML) is used to supply parts of Lucan and Quarryvale mainly.
The sole water production facility in the County is a borehole supply at Brittas which has an extremely small production capacity on 90 cu.m/ day. This supply is distributed to about 50 homes and premises with a population count of about 80 persons.
The Regulations governing the testing and monitoring of drinking water quality in Ireland are the new European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations, 2007 (S.I.106 for 2007) which were signed by the Minister on 8th March, 2007, and revoke the preceding Regulations S.I. 439 of 2000. These Regulations prescribe the quality standards to be applied to drinking water including the requirements as to sampling frequency, method of analysis and related matters. Monitoring water quality (raw and final treated water) is carried out at the major water treatment plants by Dublin City and Fingal County Councils. Analysis of samples taken is carried out the the Central Laboratory locatedat Marrowbone Lane.
Water sampling at local level is undertaken by South Dublin County Council in compliance with the above Regulations and tested at the independently accredited Central Laboratory. These samples are taken randomly throughout the County at the tap and so are representitive of the supply delivered.
The most recent EPA report entitled 'TheQuality of Drinking Water in Ireland, 2005' reported that the quality of water randomly sampledfrom the tap, and tested, demonstrated an overall compliance rating of 99.2%. This was 'well above the national average' and South Dublin County Council has met and indeed exceeded the minimum monitoring requirements as outlined in the Regulations. Monitoring of the water supply will continue to at least the levels required by the drinking water Regulations.
The thrust of the Council's response to any serious non compliance with the Drinking Water Regulations is set out in our 'Action Plan for the Protection of Drinking Water Supplies'.