COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, April 08, 2013

QUESTION NO. 4

QUESTION: Councillor T. Gilligan

To ask the Manager to outline exactly how much fluoride goes into the water in the South Dublin Council area?  Does the Manager feel that there are any health risks associated with fluoride as part of our water system?  Are there any other chemicals added to water in the South Dublin Council area?

REPLY:

In accordance with EPA standards the level of fluoride added to water in the South Dublin Area is between 0.6 and 0.8 p.p.m. In Ireland hydrofluosilicic acid (H2SiF6) is the chemical used to fluoridate water. Other chemicals that can be added to water as a source of fluoride ions, F-, include simple salts such as sodium fluoride (NaF), and calcium fluoride, (CaF2).

The public water supply is monitored to ensure compliance with all water quality legislation and standards.  The principal regulations are the EC (Drinking Water)(No.2) Regulations 2007.  Samples are taken throughout the South Dublin network and analysed at Dublin City Council’s Central laboratory at Marrowbone Lane on behalf of South Dublin County Council.

The annual EPA reports on The Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland consistently show that the drinking water standards in South Dublin County are high with respect to public water supplies. A summary of the results of drinking water testing and analysis for the past 7 years is on the Council’s website.