Irish drinking water quality high but lead levels remain a problem and other toxins surge

According to the latest annual report from the country’s Environmental Protection Agency, the quality of drinking water from public supplies remains very high, with over 99.7 per cent of samples compliant with bacterial and chemical limits.

However, the watchdog has highlighted that 481,000 people are currently served by “at-risk” supplies on the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Remedial Action List”, up from 374,000 people in 2021.

According to the agency’s latest assessment persistent trihalomethane failures were detected in supplies serving 235,000 people, doubling the population affected since 2021.