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Drinking water supplies in 13 counties have been found to have a high level of an environmental pollutant, trihalomethanes (THMs), which has been linked to cancer.
THMs are generally formed as a result of adding chlorine to water, and some studies suggest that long-term exposure to high levels of the contaminant may be linked to cancer.
Irish Water tested 791 drinking water samples this year to assess whether they exceeded the allowable limit for the contaminant, with 59 samples failing inspection in 13 different counties.
Many water supplies had multiple failures, with several in counties like Donegal, Clare, and Louth.
Our view is that exposure to THMs should be minimized and kept to an absolute minimum.
Dr. Michelle Minihan, a senior inspector for the Environmental Protection Agency, said steps will be taken to address contamination levels.
“Our view is that exposure to THMs should be minimized and kept to an absolute minimum,” he said.
“The way we’ve approached that is that when we identify supplies where the THM level in them is above the regulatory limit, and when that’s a persistent occurrence, we take action and add it to our corrective action list.
“That means Irish Water has to identify an action program to address the excesses of THM.”
Irish Water has said it has a program to address all deficiencies in drinking water, including THMs.
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