Your Rights to Clean Water

Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish water) is responsible for maintaining a safe and sustainable public drinking water supply. It is also responsible for the treatment of wastewater.

Both Uisce Éireann and local authorities carry out testing on public drinking water. These results are reported to the EPA, which monitors and enforces compliance with drinking water quality standards.

The EPA can take action against Uisce Éireann if it finds it has failed to meet them.

he primary law regulating water providers in Ireland is the 2023 Drinking Water Regulations.

These Regulations state that all water suppliers must make sure that all water intended for human consumption supplied by them is:

– Wholesome and Clean.

– does not present a risk to human health.

– Meets the requirements under the Regulations/.

In the majority of cases, the supplier is Uisce Éireann, although it is not responsible for private water supplies like wells. The 2023 Regulations place a number of duties on suppliers:

– To promptly advise consumers if water quality poses a health risk.

– To put in place a ‘drinking water safety plan’ for each supply zone.

– To carry out regularly testing of drinking water for pollutants and chemicals and make sure these do not go above the maximum acceptable limits provided.

– To regularly provide water quality test results to the EPA, which is responsible for checking compliance.

he EPA oversees both Uisce Éireann and local authorities to ensure compliance. Failure to address identified risks to a water supply after being notified in writing by the EPA is an offence which may be prosecuted.

The EPA has identified a number of issues with national water infrastructure in Ireland that require upgrades, including:

– Keeping water free of harmful bacteria.

– Eliminating lead from pipes.

– Preventing pesticides from entering our waters.

– Ensuring all water treatment plants are effective.

To bring all water supplies up to standard, the EPA maintains a Remedial Action List of all public water supplies in need of improvement.

For each supply on the list, Uisce Éireann must complete an action programme to bring the supply up to standard.

Despite the fact that the number of water supplies on the Remedial Action List has reduced over time (from 57 in 2023 to 45 in 2024) the level of compliance with drinking water standards is still inadequate to properly protect the public’s right to clean water.

You can find out more information on which supplies are at risk and view the latest Remedial Action on the EPA’s website.

In some areas of Dublin, research has identified water contamination, including unsafe levels of lead.

Uisce Éireann, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and the Department of Health are responsible for removing lead pipe in public drinking supplies. However, Uisce Eireann has so far only removed an estimated 37% of public lead connections.

Water quality issues are found more frequently in social housing, overcrowded rental housing, or old housing stock.

This means it is lower-income people who most often have to buy bottled water, which can add to financial strain.

For issues with your local water supply, you can report directly to Uisce Éireann.

If you think there is a water leak in your area, you can report it on their online form here.

If you water supply is interrupted, you can report it to Uisce Éireann here.

You can check Uisce Éireann’s website for updates on water supply issues.

If your neighbours are experiencing the same issue, then the problem is likely with the public water mains. If they are not, it may be with an issue with your internal piping system.

Uisce Eireann also have a resource which allows you to check the water quality in your area, which you can find here. You can also check their local water quality updates.

If you have a concern about the quality of your drinking water, you can make an official complaint to Uisce Éireann by emailing operations@water.ie or phoning their Customer Support Team on 0818 778 778.

If you are concerned about health impacts of your water quality, you can make a complaint to the HSE Environmental Health Officer via their portal.