The quality of Ireland’s public drinking water remains exceptionally high, with 99.8% of samples meeting safety standards in 2024, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, the agency has warned that many water supplies remain vulnerable due to a lack of resilience and slow progress in removing lead pipes.
In its Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies Report 2024, released today, the EPA reports improvements in several areas, including a reduction in long-term boil water notices and fewer supplies on the Remedial Action List (RAL). The number of public water supplies requiring upgrades dropped from 57 in 2023 to 45 in 2024, now affecting 497,000 people – down from 561,000 last year.
Despite this progress, the EPA issued 20 legally binding directions to Uisce Éireann during 2024, requiring action on persistent issues at these vulnerable supplies.
“Our public water quality remains very high, but long-term resilience is not where it needs to be,” said Dr Micheál Lehane, EPA Director. “Uisce Éireann must act on risk assessments and invest in infrastructure to protect supplies into the future.”
The report highlights significant challenges in removing lead from public water systems – an effort that has moved far too slowly since the introduction of the National Lead Strategy in 2015. The EPA warns that lead poses a cumulative health risk, particularly for young children and unborn babies. The legal limit for lead in drinking water is due to be halved by 2036, raising the urgency for action.
While improvements have been made in disinfection systems and risk planning, the EPA says long-term investment and a stronger focus on eliminating harmful substances like trihalomethanes (THMs) and pesticides are needed. THM limits were exceeded in 31 supplies last year, and pesticides in 23.
The EPA has prioritised key actions for Uisce Éireann, including completing drinking water safety plans for all supplies, eliminating lead, and ensuring water is consistently free of microbial and chemical contaminants.
The full report, along with a list of supplies still under boil water notices or restrictions, is available on the EPA’s website.
