THE ENVIRONMENTAL Protection Agency has issued a stern warning to Galway City Council over the latest contamination of drinking water supplies.
The development came last night as the city council said it was extending its testing of drinking water to all buildings constructed before 1970 - estimated at about a fifth of all houses in the city.
Schools and pre-schools are also being contacted in the high-risk areas - identified as Shantalla, Bohermore, Claddagh and Old Mervue, according to the local authority. It has confirmed to the HSE West that Old Mervue is the most vulnerable area, as the only area with a lead distribution pipe - as distinct from lead plumbing in houses.
The EPA said that its office of environmental enforcement was informed in late July of potential problems, following detection of lead in one house at four times the maximum limit under drinking water legislation. The house recorded 106 micrograms of lead per litre - the maximum limit is 25 micrograms per litre, and this is due to be reduced to 10 micrograms after 2013.
It took almost a month for the city council to inform the office of the ownership of the house, and on August 25th the office asked the local authority to prepare a programme for replacing the pipework, consult with HSE and identify the extent of the problem.
Further testing by the HSE West in 25 houses in older parts of the city and in Knocknacarra detected elevated levels in 12 residences in Old Mervue, Shantalla, Claddagh and Bohermore - with three houses recording levels four times the limit.
However, the city council didn't inform councillors at Monday's local authority meeting. Officials issued details on Tuesday as a result of an emergency meeting convened by the mayor, Cllr Padraig Conneely.
The EPA has directed the city council to determine the extent of lead piping in the distribution system and the number of people affected, and to identify all pipes owned by the city council.
It has also directed the local authority to supply details of any lead tests carried out over the past four years, including maps identifying sections of the distribution system where elevated levels of lead were recorded.
It has directed the local authority to prepare an action programme to reduce or eliminate unsafe lead levels in the distribution network. The EPA has given Galway City Council until October 15th to provide the information, and has warned that failure to do so is an offence.
Galway city manager Joe McGrath defended the local authority's testing system yesterday, stating that it had a "very comprehensive" testing retime which had showed up difficulties.
Mr McGrath said that 80 per cent of houses in the city were built after 1970, and would not be affected. He said that other cities and towns would face similar issues relating to lead piping and lead service piping.
The alert is the second to hit the city in 18 months, but so far no cases of illness related to elevated lead levels have been reported by the HSE West. The local authority has installed temporary alternative water supplies in Old Mervue, and has warned residents in the affected areas not to drink water.
Boiling water does not remove lead. Over-exposure to lead can damage the nervous and reproductive systems and kidneys, and can cause high blood pressure and anaemia. It is particularly harmful to the developing brains of babies and to young children, and consequences may include learning disabilities and behavioural problems, according to the World Health Organisation. At very high levels, lead can cause coma and death.
City councillor Brian Walsh, from Mervue, said residents were angry. "There are a lot of elderly people living here and it is a huge inconvenience," he said. "They cannot carry big bottles of water from the shops. The water should be provided free and delivered to their houses," he said.
