Latest news with #coli
Agriland
06-08-2025
- Health
- Agriland
EPA: 'Urgent need' for mandatory registration of private water supplies
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned that there is an "urgent need" for mandatory registration of private drinking water supplies. The total number of small private supplies (SPS) remains unknown as there is no legal obligation to register them. Unregistered supplies are not monitored by local authorities. The EPA Drinking Water Quality in Private Group Schemes and Small Private Supplies 2024 Report, released today (Wednesday, July 23), shows that 24 private group schemes (PGS) failed to meet E. coli standards. This figure is up by 13 from the EPA report issued in 2022. Furthermore, 19 PGS failed to meet trihalmethanes (THMs) standards in 2024. Currently, over 370 PGS supply drinking water to 193,000 people across rural communities in Ireland. In addition, many businesses and public facilities supply water from their own private wells, these are categorised as small private supplies (SPS). There are almost 1,700 SPS registered with local authorities, but many more are not registered. These include supplies serving schools, nursing homes, sports clubs, and self-catering accommodation. Source: EPA Drinking Water Quality in Private Group Schemes and Small Private Supplies 2024 Report EPA director, Micheál Lehane said: "The lack of a mandatory requirement to register a private supply serving water to the public is a serious legislative gap that must be addressed. "Without registration and subsequent monitoring by local authorities, consumers are unaware of the potential health risk they may be exposed to. "Everyone has the right to safe drinking water. We want to see mandatory registration, but in the interim we strongly encourage private suppliers to register with local authorities so that all proper safety checks can be carried out on their supply.' The EPA has stated that meeting E. coli standards is a "minimum requirement" in the provision of safe drinking water and failures indicate a lack of proper disinfection which must be addressed by water suppliers. E. coli failures were recorded in 51 SPS that were monitored by local authorities, posing a risk to consumers that use these supplies. Programme manager at the EPA's office of radiation protection and environmental monitoring, Noel Byrne, said: 'E. coli contamination of a drinking water supply can cause serious public health impacts. "E. coli compliance has declined with almost double the number of private supplies failing in 2024 compared to 2022. "This needs to be addressed as every community deserves access to safe, clean drinking water. Suppliers must take action to upgrade their systems and meet standards. "Local authorities, as the regulator of private group schemes, need to take the necessary enforcement action to ensure public health is protected.' THMs can form when natural material like leaves or other organic matter in the water source, react with chlorine used to disinfect the drinking water. According to the EPA, while disinfection is essential, THM levels should also be kept as low as possible and in compliance with the drinking water standards. In 2024, 19 PGS supplying 21,800 people failed the standard for THMs. This shows little change from 2023 when 21 schemes supplying 22,000 people failed the standard. Local authorities monitored 91% (1,517) of the 1,663 registered SPS at least once during 2024, which is an improvement from 86% in 2023 and 75% in 2022. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) is responsible for water policy and making funding available for improvements to private supplies through the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP). The new cycle of the MARWP 2024-2026 was launched in January 2024, with €45 million awarded to group water schemes for improvements to treatment infrastructure in 2024 by DHLGH. A review of the rural water sector commissioned by DHLGH highlighted several key issues including:
Extra.ie
23-07-2025
- Health
- Extra.ie
Call for private water supplies to be registered amid growing health concerns
The Environmental Protection Agency says there is an urgent need for all private drinking water supplies to be registered amid growing health concerns. It comes as the EPA revealed that the number of private group schemes failing to meet the E. coli standard almost doubled last year compared to two years previously. The environmental watchdog said that the total number of small private supplies remains unknown as there is no legal obligation to register, and unregistered supplies are not monitored by local authorities. Pic: Getty Images The EPA's survey of drinking water in Ireland – due to be released today – found that the water quality in private water supplies is not as good as in public supplies. Currently, more than 370 private group schemes supply drinking water to 193,000 people across rural communities in Ireland. Many businesses and public facilities across the country also supply water from their own private wells. There are almost 1,700 small, private supplies registered with local authorities – but many more are not registered. These unregistered supplies may include those serving schools, nursing homes, sports clubs and self-catering accommodations, the EPA said. Pic: Getty Images Micheál Lehane, EPA director, said: 'The lack of a mandatory requirement to register a private supply serving water to the public is a serious legislative gap that must be addressed. 'Without registration and subsequent monitoring by local authorities, consumers are unaware of the potential health risk they may be exposed to. Everyone has the right to safe drinking water.' He added: 'We want to see mandatory registration, but in the interim we strongly encourage private suppliers to register with local authorities so that all proper safety checks can be carried out on their supply.' Pic: Sasko Lazarov/ The EPA said meeting E. coli standards is a minimum requirement in the provision of safe drinking water. It said failures indicate a lack of proper disinfection, which must be addressed by water suppliers. In total, 24 private group schemes failed to meet the E. coli standard in 2024 – up from 13 in 2022. Six schemes had repeat failures over two consecutive years, and five of these are on long-term boil-water notices. E. coli failures were recorded in 51 small private supplies monitored by local authorities, posing a risk to consumers who use them. Noel Byrne, EPA programme manager, said: 'E. coli contamination of a drinking water supply can cause serious public health impacts. E. coli compliance has declined, with almost double the number of private supplies failing in 2024 compared to 2022. 'This needs to be addressed as every community deserves access to safe, clean drinking water. Suppliers must take action to upgrade their systems and meet standards. 'Local authorities, as the regulator of private group schemes, need to take the necessary enforcement action to ensure public health is protected.' A group of chemical compounds known as trihalomethanes (THMs) can form when natural material such as leaves or other organic matter in the water source reacts with chlorine used to disinfect the drinking water. The EPA said that while disinfection is essential, THM levels should be kept as low as possible and must be in compliance with drinking water standards. In 2024, 19 private group schemes, which supply 21,800 people nationwide, failed to meet the standard for THMs – a similar figure to 2023. The EPA's report on Drinking Water Quality In Private Group Schemes And Small Private Supplies In 2024 is available on its website.
RTÉ News
23-07-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
E. Coli breaches found in private water schemes
A new report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that there have been a number of breaches in E. Coli standards in private group schemes. The Drinking Water Quality in Private Group Schemes and Small Private Supplies 2024 report has found that 24 private groups failed to meet E. Coli standards in 2024. This is an increase of 13 from 2022. Currently, over 370 private group schemes supply drinking water to 193,000 people across rural communities in Ireland. In addition, many businesses and public facilities supply water from their own private wells. There are almost 1,700 small private supplies registered with local authorities. However, many more are not registered. A gap in current drinking water legislation means the regulations do not require private suppliers to register, meaning the total number of small private supplies in the country remains unknown. These include supplies serving schools, nursing homes, sports clubs and self-catering accommodations. The quality of water in unregistered supplies is not monitored by local authorities. "The lack of a mandatory requirement to register a private supply serving water to the public is a serious legislative gap that must be addressed," said EPA Director Micheál Lehane. "Without registration and subsequent monitoring by local authorities, consumers are unaware of the potential health risk they may be exposed to. "Everyone has the right to safe drinking water. We want to see mandatory registration, but in the interim, we strongly encourage private suppliers to register with local authorities so that all proper safety checks can be carried out on their supply." E. Coli compliance Meeting E. Coli standards is a minimum requirement in the provision of safe drinking water and failures indicate a lack of proper disinfection which must be addressed by water suppliers. While 24 private group schemes failed to meet the E. coli standard in 2024, six schemes had repeat failures over two consecutive years. Five of these are on long-term boil water notices. E. Coli failures were also recorded in 51 small private supplies that were monitored by local authorities, posing a risk to consumers that use these supplies. Noel Byrne, Programme Manager of the EPA's Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring said: "E. Coli contamination of a drinking water supply can cause serious public health impacts. "E. Coli compliance has declined with almost double the number of private supplies failing in 2024 compared to 2022. "This needs to be addressed as every community deserves access to safe, clean drinking water. Suppliers must take action to upgrade their systems and meet standards. "Local authorities, as the regulator of private group schemes, need to take the necessary enforcement action to ensure public health is protected," he added.
NZ Herald
22-07-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Whanganui West Catchment Group to reveal results from three years of water testing
'On the other hand, E. coli bacteria continue to cause concern, and the group is refining its surveying to try to find better ways to reduce that persistent problem,' it said. 'The work is separate from Horizons' [Regional Council] monitoring, which gives rise to warnings in summer to bathers at Kai Iwi and Ototoka.' Earlier this year, swimming at Kai Iwi was off-limits for several days, after detection of high levels of enterococci bacteria. Whanganui Region Catchment Collective (WRCC) co-ordinator Natasha de Rose said volunteers undertook the sampling at 82 sites. The WRCC is the umbrella organisation for the West Whanganui group. 'We always need more buy-in, but there are certainly some farmers who are pulling their weight and doing a lot of stuff on their properties,' de Rose said. 'I think farmers got sick of the narrative that they were causing E. coli in swim spots, and that's been a big driver for them behind the scenes.' The Mowhanau Stream is one of five in the Whanganui West catchment. Photo / NZME Russell said the group was 'a very small cog in the big picture'. 'It all feeds into what New Zealand Inc is getting for produce overseas,' he said. 'More and more of our red meat customers, the likes of [United Kingdom supermarket] Sainsbury's, are starting to ask about the environment from which their meat is being supplied and whether it's being looked after.' He said, historically, there had been minimal water testing in the area. 'This report is forming the basis of what our next actions will be. 'It is a long-term thing we're looking at. We have to hold our position in terms of water quality, and try and improve it.' De Rose said funding for the group's work came from the Ministries for Primary Industries and Environment via the WRCC, with additional funding for sampling and reporting from Wai Connection. 'There are a few catchment groups up and running now, like Okoia and a little one in the back of Brunswick down to Papaiti. 'They are up country as well, through to Taumarunui and beyond. 'We are all trying to do the same things, but working together makes it a bit easier.' Russell said in the 1970s and 1980s, the focus in the Whanganui West area was to clear land and grow grass. 'The focus for this generation is actually looking after the environment, waterways and biodiversity. 'We'd like to see more farmers getting involved, and we'd like more members. The more the merrier.' The report will be presented at the Mowhanau Beach Community Hall on July 24 at 7pm. Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.
Local France
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Local France
Raincheck: Paris shuts Seine swim spots day after reopening
Red flags flew over the three designated swimming zones in the French capital on Sunday, warning would-be bathers that the Seine was off-limits due to water quality concerns caused by the wet weather. The closures came just a day after the river's triumphant reopening , which capped a years-long effort to clean up the Seine, with bathers of all ages diving in for the first time since the practice was banned in 1923. But on rainy days, the mid-19th-century Parisian sewage system often overflows, causing rain and waste waters to pour into the river. To mitigate the risk, city officials said that the Seine would be assessed daily for the the presence of the faecal bacteria escherichia coli (E. coli) and enterococci. Flags inform bathers about pollution levels in the water every day, and if it rains, the sites will likely close the day after, said Paris city official Pierre Rabadan. Another site along the Canal St-Martin in eastern Paris was set to welcome its first swimmers on Sunday but remained closed over the rain, which "compromises water quality", according to the local town hall on X. The seasonal opening of the Seine for swimming is seen as a key legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics, when open-water swimmers and triathletes competed in its waters, which were specially cleaned for the event. Advertisement Ahead of the Olympic Games, authorities invested approximately 1.4 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in improving the Seine's water quality. Record rainfall during the Games led to the cancellation of six of the 11 competitions held on the river. The promise to lift the swimming ban dates back to 1988, when then-mayor of Paris and future president Jacques Chirac first advocated for its reversal, around 65 years after the practice was banned.
