The European Commission has sent a letter of formal notice to Ireland for failure to comply with laws relating to the quality of drinking water.
Donegal is among the worst affected areas for drinking water contaminated with an exceedance of Trihalomethane (THMs) values. Trihalomethane are harmful disinfection by-products formed when natural organic matter in the water source, such as rotting vegetation, reacts with chlorine.
The EU Commission has said that Ireland failed to fulfil its obligations under the Drinking Water Directive by providing drinking water to over 500 000 people in Ireland which includes excessive amounts of Trihalomethane.
Counties Donegal, Kerry, and Wicklow have been noted as the worst affected areas under the warning.
The warning said: “The Irish authorities have not taken appropriate actions to bring down the value of THMs and to notify consumers of the health implications as required.”
Ireland has been given two months to respond to the EU Commission’s warning letter before further action is taken.
In 2017, the EPA found that six areas of Donegal had persistent trihalomethane failures in supplies. These areas were Cashilard, Gortahork-Falcarragh, Fintown, Greencastle, Portnoo Nairn and Rathmullan. The EPA said legal proceedings were brought against Irish Water over the failures in April 2018.
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