HOUSEHOLDERS IN Waterford city were yesterday warned about "excess levels of lead in the public water supply" to several hundred older homes in an area close to the city centre.
Waterford City Council discovered the problem when it received the results from a monitoring of the city's supply and discovered "breaches" in samples, which were above the limit of 25 microgrammes per litre.
The area identified is bordered by a line from - though excluding - The Mall out the Newtown- Dunmore Road areas as far as Glenville and from Johnstown via John's Hill, Grange Park, Passage Road and back to Dunmore Road.
Those living in houses built before 1970 in the area involved will receive advice leaflets from the council before the weekend.
The local authority said householders in the area affected were being advised by the council and the HSE to "let the cold tap run off a sink full of water which should be discarded before water is poured for human consumption.
"This is especially important first thing in the morning and when water has not run through the taps for six hours or more," according to a statement.
Director of services at the council Collette Byrne said that "corrective measures" would be taken.
"Further testing and investigation in the affected areas will now be carried out and Waterford City Council continues to work closely with both the EPA and the HSE regarding advice in relation to any human health issues.
"However, members of the public are assured that, outside of the particular areas where excess lead content has been reported, there is no reason for general concern about water quality in the city," said Ms Byrne.
She was keen to stress that the problem "does not arise from our treatment plant but rather from the lead service pipes through which the water travels closer to homes".
The EPA confirmed it had received notification from the council about the problem.
The EPA sent out a notice to all local authorities last month and advised them of their obligations to inform the authority if lead levels higher than 25 microgrammes per litre were found in a public water supply. The authority took the action following the discovery of excessive lead levels in the water supply in Galway city.
Since making the announcement in late September, seven local authorities: Clare, Cork city, Dublin city, Louth, Limerick county, Cork county and Kilkenny reported excessive lead levels in areas in the aftermath of the EPA announcement.
The EPA said it had received other notifications since, including Waterford city, but it was the duty of local authorities to inform the public concerned.