AS the fallout continues from the latest water crisis, the Department of Housing insists that a €6.1 billion investment in infrastructure will bring “systems up to the standards of a modern service”.
Minister Eoghan Murphy’s department was responding to stinging criticism after a second Boil Water Notice was issued last week affecting over 600,000 households, including large areas of the Northside.
Irish Water was also heavily criticised for the problems experienced at the Leixlip plant.
Senator James Reilly, Fine Gael’s candidate in the Dublin Fingal bye-election, has called for greater powers of enforcement to be given to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
He said: “I am calling on the Minister to bring forward legislation to give the people of Fingal greater confidence in their water supply and to show that consequences will follow.”
The Fingal based senator added that he has made representations on this to Minister Murphy directly and will continue to work on this issue on behalf of the people of Fingal.
“It is deeply concerning for the community that yet another Boil Water Notice has been issued in such a short space of time.
“While the source water may be cloudy, it is crystal clear that the EPA need greater powers of enforcement following repeated failures by Irish Water to implement their recommendations.”
Dublin Fingal TD Darragh O’Brien (FF) also criticised Irish Water for its “failure to implement warnings from a March 2019 EPA report”.
Deputy O’Brien said officials from Irish Water are due before an Oireachtas committee this week.
“I will use this opportunity to grill them over why these recommendations were not acted upon in a timely manner,” he said.
Labour’s bye-election candidate in Dublin Fingal, Cllr Duncan Smith, said urgent investment is needed in the Leixlip water treatment plant.
“A resource such as this that is supposed to provide fresh, clean and healthy water to the Greater Dublin area and needs to be invested in properly,” said Cllr Smith.
“In the meantime, Irish Water needs to lay out how it intends to remedy this situation in the short term, so people in Fingal and further afield are not left without water for a long period of time.”
Dublin Bay North TD Denise Mitchell (SF) said the problem is a “source of stress and cost that some may not be able to afford.”
“With climate change at the top of everyone’s agenda and the likelihood of weather such as this becoming more frequent, it is essential that all water treatment plants are upgraded so as to be able to handle storms and heavy rainfall,” she said.
Minister Murphy visited Leixlip last Wednesday morning to view ongoing work to upgrade the plant.
A spokesperson for the Department of Housing said it is concerning that so many people have again been impacted by the latest Boil Water Notice.
“The Minister has already commissioned his own review from the EPA which he expects to receive in the coming weeks,” said the spokesperson.
“While this latest issue is different from that which caused the first Boil Water Notice, it is linked to the need to upgrade the treatment plant so it can resiliently and consistently produce high quality drinking water.
“Both our water and wastewater systems require substantial and sustained investment, and the Government is committed to providing that investment.”
The spokesperson said it has approved the Irish Water Strategic Funding Plan 2019-2024, which includes a €6.1 billion investment in water infrastructure and assets.
“This investment will bring the systems up to the standards of a modern service, provide for population growth and build resilience in the face of climate change,” the spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, Irish Water said that due to heavy rain, the source water going into the plant was cloudy due to suspended particles.
“The old Leixlip Plant was not able to cope with the cloudiness levels,” said and Irish Water spokesperson.
“Plant operators reacted quickly before alarms were activated and shut down the old plant to stop this water entering the network.”
General Manager of Irish Water Eamon Gallen said: “Irish Water apologises for the impact and inconvenience caused by this Boil Water Notice to homes and businesses. Our number one priority is public health and the safety and wellbeing of our customers.”