COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/FONTHILL AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

MOTION NO. 9

MOTION: Councillor L. O'Toole

That the Chief Executive note that following motions I’ve raised in the Lucan area committee over last couple of years, where a number of issues regarding water quality have been raised,  I ask that these issues be discussed at this committee. I ask that the Chief Executive write to IW requesting them to attend our next area committee. The issues raised to date are still ongoing and appear to be spreading into other areas of Lucan. 

REPORT: 

Irish Water has been the responsible body for the supply of drinking water and foul sewer drainage nationally since 1/1/2014. A report was requested from Irish Water regarding this motion and the change of supply of drinking water to areas in the north of the county, and they have reported on 18^th September 2019 as below: 

“The water supply in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) comes from a number of different Water Treatment Plants, primarily the Liffey plants at Leixlip Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and Ballymore Eustace WTP. The water balance between the two is a function of the supply demand balance from time to time and is managed on a daily basis. Both are modern well run plants which fully meet all statutory drinking water standards.

Since March, 2018 the supply of water from the Leixlip WTP has been extended to areas of South Dublin (Lucan, Palmerstown and North Clondalkin) because of increased demand overall in the network. This rebalancing of the supply from both plants is unavoidable in order to ensure a secure sustainable water supply to homes and businesses in these areas and avoid water restrictions and water outages.

Both the Leixlip and Ballymore Eustace supply sources meet drinking water regulations but have different characteristics, with Leixlip water being classified as moderately hard, compared to Ballymore Eustace. Hardness is a natural characteristic of much of Ireland's drinking water supply. Hard water contains high levels of natural minerals absorbed from rock and soil. Hard water is not harmful to your health, in fact, the higher mineral content of hard water (such as Calcium and Magnesium) may confer health benefits above that of soft water. 

Irish Water does not chemically treat water to remove these mineral salts as they are naturally occurring and fully consistent with safe drinking water. The Leixlip plant currently supplies upwards of 500,000 people and the capital upgrade of the network is to be completed in 2020.   

Further information relating to water hardness can be found on our website https://www.water.ie/water-supply/water-quality/water-hardness/ 

Customers can contact us for further information on our customer care helpline which is open 24/7 on 1850 278 278 or on Twitter @IWCare. 

FAQ on Water Hardness:

What is water hardness?

Hardness is a natural characteristic of much of Ireland's drinking water supply. Hard water contains high levels of natural minerals absorbed from rock and soil. Hard water is not harmful to your health, in fact, the higher mineral content of hard water (such as Calcium and Magnesium) may confer health benefits above that of soft water.

Does hard and soft water differ in taste, appearance & smell?

Due to the higher mineral content, hard water typically tastes nicer than soft water. Hard water looks the same as soft water, however when heated, it forms a white calcium deposit known as lime scale. You may notice a buildup of limescale on the inside of your kettle or as a visible coating on the surface of a hot drink (e.g. tea). Hard water has no smell. If your water has an unusual taste or smell please visit our dedicated page on this issue.

How is hard water formed?

Rain water is ‘soft water’ and normally contains very low levels of minerals. When rain falls, it seeps into the ground and comes into contact with soil and rock. If minerals like calcium and magnesium are in the soil and rock they absorb into the water. It then becomes hard water.

How does hard water get to the tap?

Water hardness levels vary across regions in Ireland, depending on the soil and rock types. Hard water is often present in the rivers and lakes we use to source our drinking water. When we abstract and treat this water to make it safe to drink we do not remove the minerals, as they pose no health risks.

 Why does Irish Water not soften hard water?

There are good reasons why we don't chemically soften hard water.

• There are no health risks involved in drinking and using hard water
• Softening water removes beneficial minerals from hard water
• There is no legislative requirement to remove hardness from drinking water
• Depending on the technology used, artificially softened water may not be suitable for everyone to drink, e.g. increased Sodium levels caused by salt softening may not be suitable for infants or at-risk groups
• Hard water can create an internal protective film on lead pipes or fittings. This can prevent metals such as lead leaching into your drinking water supply. To find out more about the dangers of lead in drinking water visit our dedicated information section.

How can limescale be treated and prevented?

Limescale is formed when you heat hard water. It can form a coating or fur within your kitchen appliances and heating system. It may also reduce the effectiveness of detergents and/or soap. Here are some tips to treat and prevent limescale build up in your hot water appliances and systems. Remember to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for any of your appliances that use water.

Kettles or other drinking water boilers

• Place a stainless steel wire scale collector in your kettle.
• Rinse plastic kettles regularly if there is limescale floating on the water surface.
• Do not leave leftover boiled water sitting in the kettle.
• Regularly descale your kettle – consult your local hardware store for advice

Hot water heating systems

• Heating systems that recirculate the same water within a closed loop are generally not affected by limescale formation. However if you have a heating system where fresh water can replenish any water lost from the system, limescale may build up over time and reduce the efficiency of your heating system. This may become evident through your heating pipes starting to rattle or your radiators taking longer than usual to heat. If you are concerned you should consult a plumber to examine your heating system.
• Reducing the temperature set point of your water heater may reduce the level of limescale formation.

Washing machines, dishwashers and hard water

• Dishwashers often have built-in water softeners. These should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• You can use water-softening products in your washing machine to help prevent limescale build-up.

Install a softening unit

If you find hard water is a problem in your home you can install a domestic softening unit. Irish Water cannot recommend any particular unit or guarantee its effectiveness. It is best to talk to your local plumber for advice in this area.” 

Members are reminded that Irish Water have established a Local Representative Service Desk. This Service Desk can be contacted at localrepsupport@water.ie or at 1890 178 178. Irish Water also arrange Councillor clinics. These take place quarterly and the last clinic took place in SDCC on 9^th September 2019. These clinics take place in County Hall and Irish Water inform that all members were invited. The issue of hard water supply to Palmerstown area was raised and Irish Water responded along the lines of their report above.