The quality of drinking water in Westmeath has improved, according to a recent environmental report.
The report released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ) shows that water in Westmeath achieved 100 per cent compliance in microbiological parameters, the same as in 2010, and 99.7 per cent compliance with chemical parameters which is an increase in quality from 98.8 per cent in 2010.
The report, entitled ‘The Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland, A Report for the Year 2011’ shows that public water supplies serving more than 80 per cent of the Irish population have improved every year since the EPA created a Remedial Action List to tackle drinking water problems over four years ago.
There were 339 public water supplies on the EPA’s Remedial Action List when it was created four years ago, whereas now there are 168.
Regional inspector Darragh Page praised Westmeath County Council for their improved management of the county’s water supplies.
“It is great news for people in Westmeath that the number of occurrences of E. coli in public supplies is down by almost 90 per cent since 2005. This is as a result of better management, processes, monitoring, treatment, and disinfection by Westmeath County Council.
“We want to let people in Westmeath know that the next steps are to secure these gains by Westmeath County Council which were achieved after they adopted a water safety plan which sets out the risks and any operational, maintenance, or infrastructural improvements required along the supply chain to manage the risks identified.”
The EPA is asking all those in Westmeath who are owners of private wells and not on public supplies to check the water source for potential sources of pollution and to get their water tested. Additional information is available from Westmeath County Council and on the EPA website.
The full report, and the quarterly Remedial Actions List is available on the EPA website at www.epa.ie
