Contamination warning in Fingal

IF you are relying on your own well for drinking water, your family could be at risk from dangerous bacteria such as E.coli.

That’s according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which has issued a warning to private well owners in Fingal that they are at risk of contamination.

The EPA recommends that private well owners should check that the well is located and constructed properly to prevent contamination getting into it, and that the well should be tested to find out if the water is safe to drink.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has found a growing number of cases of a particularly serious form of E-coli, called VTEC, in wells nationwide.

Recent reports have estimated that 30 per cent of private wells in Ireland are contaminated by E. coli. There are over 290 registered wells in Fingal at present, of which 87 may be at risk.

David Flynn, Programme Manager at the EPA, told Northside People:

“People treated for VTEC are four times more likely to have consumed untreated water from a private well.

“Lots of people assume that, because their water comes from a well or a spring, it’s completely pure and safe to drink, but that is not necessarily the case.

“We estimate that up to 87 private wells in Fingal are contaminated with human or animal waste and this can cause significant threat to people’s health.

“Sometimes, we find that people can develop immunity themselves, but visitors to the house, particularly children and the elderly are at risk of getting very sick.

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Dr Una Fallon, HSE Public Health Specialist and the chair of the HSE National Drinking Water Group, said there has been a dramatic increase in the number of cases of VTEC in recent years.

“VTEC (Veritoxigenic E. coli) is a nasty water borne illness and cases have been linked to contaminated wells,

? said Ms Fallon.

“VTEC infection is most common in children and in up to 8 per cent of cases patients go on to develop serious kidney complications. These can, on rare occasions, prove fatal. This is all preventable.

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The EPA is urging all owners of private wells to take a look at the information it is providing on its website, including what well owners should do to protect their health.

“The information includes a short animation to explain the risks to well water quality and the simple things that can be done to reduce them,

? said Mr Flynn.

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‘Protect your Well’ assessment app is also available from the EPA website. Well owners can assess whether their wells are at risk in less than 10 minutes using this simple app.

“It provides well owners with tailored advice on how they can reduce the risk of contamination in their well.

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The key messages are to make sure that the well is constructed so that it is protected from shallow water contamination; ensure the well is located away from potentially polluting sources and that owners get their water tested. The animation, web app, an Infographic and general information for the Householder about Private Wells are all available on the EPA website at www.erc.epa.ie/water/wells/