Irish Water is leading a significant programme of work to improve water quality and address long-standing issues with water supplies across the country.
Welcoming the latest milestone, Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien TD said: "I am delighted to welcome the news that improved water quality has been provided to so many of our fellow citizens and that great inroads have been made to tackle the issue. In the National Development Plan for 2021-2025, the Government is committed to a €6bn investment programme for improvement to our water infrastructure – to be undertaken by Irish Water with over €4.5 billion of that work to be Exchequer funded. Today, we are seeing the first real tangible fruits of that investment."
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The improvements in water quality emerged as the EPA this week updated its Remedial Action List, confirming that 16 supplies have been removed from the list in the past year, benefiting over 790,000 customers. The Remedial Action List identifies drinking water supplies that are at risk of failing to consistently supply safe, clean drinking water. For those supplies remaining on the list, Irish Water has put action plans in place to address these issues – many of which are the legacy of decades of under-investment in Ireland's public water infrastructure.
Minister O'Brien added: "The Government's objective is to have robust water and waste water infrastructure that reliably meets quality and environmental standards and provides for the future development of Ireland. These objectives must continue to be a focus for Irish Water's plans for infrastructural investment in Ireland's public water services."
