Removal of two water supplies from EPA’s Remedial action list means a further 16,000 people in Kilkenny have safe drinking water

Over 16,000 water consumers in Kilkenny received good news this week following the removal of two water supplies by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from their Remedial Action List (RAL). The latest report from the EPA shows that Irish Water has reduced the number of schemes on the RAL in Kilkenny from 7 to three since 2015.

The RAL identifies drinking water supplies that are at risk of failing to consistently supply safe, clean drinking water. The Inistioge and Kilkenny City (Troyswood) water supplies have been given the thumbs up by the EPA following extensive investment and upgrade works by Irish Water working in partnership with Kilkenny County Council.

Works are continuing on two other water supplies on the RAL in Kilkenny, the Glenmore, Kilkenny City (Radestown) and Pilltown-Fiddown water supplies with a view to having them removed from the RAL as soon as possible.

Irish Water Compliance Specialist, Pat Duggan says: “The publication of the latest RAL by the EPA confirms that whilst improvements have been made in many areas, the scale of the challenge faced by Irish Water in ensuring the delivery of clean and safe water in Kilkenny and throughout the country remains.

“As a single national utility Irish Water has been able to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the performance of Ireland’s drinking water treatment plants and focus investment where the risk to our customers is highest. Nationally Irish Water has adopted a prioritised programme of works which will require an investment of €2 billion by 2021. Significant improvements are being achieved year on year by this approach right across the country.”

Irish Water is committed to addressing ensuring that all of its customers have safe, clean drinking water. It is working in partnership with Local Authorities to address the issues affecting the water supplies which remain on the RAL and to bring them to a standard where the EPA determines that they can be removed.

The RAL is updated quarterly by the EPA for those water supplies where investment in treatment processes is required. Irish Water has a prioritised programme of investment for all schemes on the RAL.