Opening Hours M-F - 9AM to 6PM S 10AM to 4PM
Call Us 061 351643
Email Us info@uisce4u.com
Menu

Author: Admin

Mid-West Records High Rate of Cryptosporidium Outbreaks

5th April 2022
| No Comments
| Categories: News
Cryptosporidium Outbreaks Midwest Region

Just as we learn that a serious outbreak of cryptosporidium has occurred on a local farm this month, April 2022, we are also learning from the Mid-West Department of Public Health that the region recorded 121 outbreaks in 2021 alone. This is three times higher than the previous year and now means the Mid-West has one of the highest rates of cryptosporidium outbreaks in Ireland. The Mid-West Dept of Public Health is advising members of the public, particularly those on or around farms and rural areas, to test and treat their water supplies if they are using well water, in order to reduce the risk of of cryptosporidium infection. They also advise people on or near farms, particularly dairy farms...

Read More ›

High Nitrate Levels in Drinking Water Supplies

19th July 2021
| No Comments
| Categories: News
Farm Nitrates in Drinking Water

In a recent report, the Irish EPA has issued a warning that just under half of Irish rivers (47%), just under a quarter of groundwater (24%) and over one fifth of estuary and coastal waters (21%) have nitrogen levels that are too high. It noted that many of the rivers in south of Ireland including the counties of Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford are under pressure with excessive nitrogen caused by intensive farming, including intensive dairy farming and other agricultural activities. There are many private water wells in the intensive farming areas of these counties, particularly in the Golden Vale and Mid-West region, many of which could be affected by high nitrogen levels. To protect your family’s health and ensure...

Read More ›

Cancer Linked to THM’s in Drinking Water

31st January 2020
| No Comments
| Categories: News

A team of researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Europe, have shown a link (by as much as 5%) to some bladder cancers by the use of chlorination for treating public drinking water in Ireland and some other European countries. In the research, chlorine is shown as being the most common chemical disinfectant used in the purification of surface water for drinking purposes. However, in the chlorination process, free chlorine reacts with organic compounds in the water which then creates byproducts including THM’s (Trihalomethanes), which are being associated with a bladder cancer risk. Countries showing the highest levels of bladder cancer cases linked to THM’s were Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Malta and Spain where chlorination is generally...

Read More ›

Feale River Pesticide Levels Much Higher Than EU Limits

26th June 2019
| No Comments
| Categories: News

Households and customers of the Abbeyfeale public water supply as well as households in other areas of West Limerick should be more than concerned at the reports of high pesticide levels in their drinking water. This is a result of the work of the Mount Collins/Brosna Anglers’ Association who have documentation that shows persistent pesticide safety level failures at 15 sampling stations on the River Feale between Rockchapel and Abbeyfeale. During the years 2015 to 2018, the Abbeyfeale public water supply which is sourced from the River Feale, had pesticide levels of .65 mcg per litre, or six times higher than the EU-permitted parametric limit of .10 mcg per litre. The European Drinking Water Regulations 2014 (S.I. 122 of 2014)...

Read More ›

EU Commission Water Contamination Case

28th January 2019
| No Comments
| Categories: News

In August last year, the EU Commission began an infringement case against Ireland for failure to ensure drinking water was safe for over 500,000 consumers from a chemical linked to cancer and other health issues. The Commission sent a letter of formal notice to Ireland for failing to fulfill its obligations under the EU Drinking Water Directive by allowing excessive levels of Trihalomethanes (THM) in some Irish drinking water supplies. According to the Commission, the Irish authorities had “not taken appropriate actions” to bring down the amount of THM in drinking water. The Commission is also pursuing the Irish state for failing to notify consumers of the health implications as required under the EU Directive. Read more..

Read More ›

Most Plastic Bottled Water Now Produced From Tap Water

6th March 2018
| No Comments
| Categories: News

New research now shows that most plastic bottled water is in most cases just filtered water from public water supplies. The research also exposes predatory plastic bottled water marketing tactics and how the bottled water industry negatively impacts people and the environment. Industry marketing and false advertising from corporations like Nestlè means that more people are buying bottled water than ever — even though about 64 percent of the bottled water comes from public water systems. This means that people buying plastic bottled water are paying much, much more than they would for that same water from their own kitchen tap. In fact, bottled water is about 2,000 times more expensive than tap water. The production of plastic bottled water...

Read More ›

Recycling Waste Water into Drinking Water

22nd November 2017
| No Comments
| Categories: News

According to a report in thejournal.ie, Irish Water may consider recycling waste water from sewage treatment plants and turn it into water which can be used for other purposes, including drinking water, to prevent future shortages. Recycled waste water is used in many countries across the world, but it is mostly used for irrigation and usually used during droughts. Other proposals in the report by Irish Water in order to meet its objectives include the treatment of seawater by desalination, new water abstraction points, the building of new reservoirs, demand management and improvement to water treatment plants. For more details, click here to read or download the full report.

Read More ›

Microplastics Now Affecting Drinking Water Supplies

9th June 2017
| No Comments
| Categories: News

New research from the Irish EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) shows that micro-plastics are now entering Irish fresh water as well as seawater. Microplastics in the form of microbead scrubbers are present in some cosmetics and household cleaning products are starting to harm the Irish environment. The research was carried out by researchers in the Marine and Freshwater Research Centre at Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT). It provides vital national level data and information on the environmental sources and risks posed by microplastics and plastic waste in general which has the potential to become microplastic over time. Consumers can help by checking the product labels of cosmetics, clothes and cleaners to see if they certify they are microplastic free. The...

Read More ›

EPA Highlights E.coli Contamination in Private Wells

9th March 2017
| No Comments
| Categories: News

A new report from the Irish EPA claims that the lack of regular monitoring for E coli in Ireland is worrying as users may unwittingly be drinking poor quality water which could expose them to serious illness. This is particularly the case for people who are vulnerable, such as children, older people, or those with low immunity or underlying medical conditions. The report shows also that small private water wells have the worst E.coli contamination levels, much more so than public water supplies or privately-owned group water schemes. One of the safest ways to ensure safe drinking water from a private water well is to install a water filtration system. If you own or get your drinking water from a...

Read More ›

EU Taking Action Over THMs in Irish Drinking Water

1st February 2017
| No Comments
| Categories: News

The European Commission is expected to take infringement proceedings against Ireland due to the level of trihalomethanes (THMs) found in drinking water, according to an article in the Irish Times. It will now be necessary to deal with the chemicals, which have been linked to cancer. The chemicals known as THM’s (Trihalomethanes) are disinfection by-products and occur when water is treated with chlorine (used to purify the water) which is common in most water schemes in Ireland . THMs are the result of a reaction between the chlorine used for disinfecting tap water and natural organic matter in the water. At elevated levels, THMs have been associated with negative health effects such as cancer and adverse reproductive outcomes. In Ireland,...

Read More ›

Call Now Button