A Do Not Consume Notice for localised section of the network in Monaghan Town has been lifted with immediate effect. Uisce Éireann can confirm that, following consultation with the Health Service Executive, customers can now resume normal use of the water supply.

The notice, which was issued on 24 October, was put in place to protect the health of customers due to elevated levels of manganese detected in the public water supply.

Drinking water experts from Uisce Éireann worked to lift the notice as quickly and safely as possible and following satisfactory water samples the Do Not Consume notice has been lifted. The 1,000 customers affected on Derry Road, Armagh Road, Knockaconny and the Tullyhirm Townland can now use their water as normal.

Uisce Eireann’s Peadar McGuinness acknowledged the impact of the notice on homes and businesses and thanked the community for their support while we worked to lift the notice.

“Uisce Éireann’s primary focus remains the protection of public health and we worked with our stakeholders to lift the notice as quickly as possible.”

“We are grateful to customers, elected representatives and the media for their assistance in sharing information on the Do Not Consume Notice.”

Updates are available on the Water Supply Updates section, on X (formerly Twitter) @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278. Business customers can sign up to Uisce Éireann’s text alert service to receive updates on supply interruptions over four hours in duration at www.water.ie/business-updates. To register as a vulnerable customer or as an alternative contact, visit www.water.ie/vulnerablecustomer.

Uisce Éireann is responsible for delivering public drinking water and wastewater services for the people of Ireland. We are committed to enabling communities to thrive by continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support sustainable growth and development, providing safe drinking water, and enhancing the environment.

Date of Drinking Water Restriction Notice: 21/06/2023

Ongoing issues at Drumgole GWS water treatment plant have resulted in elevated levels of manganese being detected leaving the treatment plant and in the Drumgole GWS network. The drinking water quality is considered to be considerably compromised and an immediate risk to your health.

As a result, following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Monaghan County Council, Drumgole GWS are issuing a Do Not Consume Notice with immediate effect to protect the health of all consumers on this scheme. This Do Not Consume Notice applies to all customers served by Drumgole GWS.

IMPORTANT: Boiling your water will not render it safe to drink.

1: Please use an alternative safe source of drinking water (e.g. Bottled Water) for the following:

• Drinking
• Preparing Drinks made with water
• Cooking of Food.
• Food Preparation including washing and preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating
• Brushing of teeth and/or gargling
• Making of ice. However, ensure you first discard all existing ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges

 

IMPORTANT: Water from the hot tap of kitchen or bathroom sinks is not safe to drink.

Alternative supplies are being provided and will be notified to you by Drumgole GWS. Remember to boil this water before use for drinking or for food preparation.

2: You can continue to use your internal water supply for the following:

• Flushing of toilets
• Personal Hygiene (showering/bathing)
• Laundry and washing utensils

3: Caution:

• Domestic water filters will not render your water safe to drink
• Discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges. Make ice from an alternative safe source of water (e.g. Bottled Water)
• If you have pets and are concerned about the impact of providing mains water while this restriction is in place, you should ask your local vet for advice

4: Only use an alternative safe source of drinking water (e.g. Bottled Water) for the following situations.

• When preparing foods that will not be cooked (e.g. washing and preparing salads)
• Preparing Infant Formula. Where a Do Not Consume Notice is in place, you can prepare infant formula from bottled water. All bottled water, with the exception of natural mineral water, is regulated to the same standard as drinking water. It is best not to use bottled water labelled as ‘Natural Mineral Water’ as it can have high levels of sodium (salt) and other minerals, although it rarely does. ‘Natural Mineral Water’ can be used if no other water is available, for as short a time as possible, as it is important to keep babies hydrated. If bottled water is used to make up infant formula it should be boiled once (rolling boil for 1 minute) and cooled in the normal way. Ready-to-use formula that does not need added water can also be used.

5: Always Take Care:

If you are boiling bottled water to prepare infant formula, care should be taken with boiled water to avoid burns and scalds. Accidents can easily happen, especially with children.

6: How long before the Do Not Consume Notice can be lifted?

We do not know at present, but Drumgole GWS will continue to liaise with the Monaghan County Council and Health Service Executive (HSE) with a view to lifting the restriction as soon as practicable.

7: How will we keep you informed?

You will be kept informed through Drumgole GWS and Monaghan County Council social media outlets.

8: Awareness for commercial premises

Drumgole GWS request that this Restriction is placed in a prominent position within your commercial premises.

 9. At Risk Groups

Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and young children.

Remember – Do not use your tap water for drinking or food preparation until further notice

The Black Kesk on Cootheill to Newbliss Road,

Drumkeen Presbyterian Church, Aghadrumkeen,

St Marys Chapel, Ture.

 

Water taken from tankers must be boiled before use.

Do Not Consume Notice Issued by:

Drumgole GWS in Consultation with the HSE and Monaghan County Council.

For any queries, please contact Drumgole GWS.

Contact Details: drumgolegroupwater@gmail.com 

         

Irish Water and Monaghan County Council

Monaghan County Council on behalf of Irish Water wish to advise customers that Water Mains Flushing will take place from Monday 31^st January 2023 to Friday 31^st March 2023, on the Lough Egish Regional Water Supply Scheme.

The following areas will be affected: Corkeeran, Mullan, Scots Corner, Cremartin, Annyalla, Kinnagin, Drumquail, Tasson,Clontibert, Greagh, Kinnagin, Annaglare, Bree, Castleblayney Town Centre Muckno Street, , Monaghan road Castleblayney, Cremartin, Annyalla, Clontibret Village, Rackwallace, Scotch Corner, Clerran, Castleshane and surrounding environs. NOT ALL THESE AREAS WILL BE AFFECTED AT THE SAME TIME.

Mains flushing is undertaken to improve the quality of water supplied to our customers. Customers in areas where flushing will take place will notice a temporary discolouration to their water, but this discolouration will clear when allowed to run for a few minutes.

Customers may also experience reduced pressure and interruptions to their supply for the duration of these works.

We regret any inconvenience caused.

 

 

Signed:         

Peadar Mc Guinness

Head of Water Services

26^th January 2023

Unsurprisingly Eila McTernan had no grand plan when she sat her Leaving Cert at the tender age of 16.

She enjoyed science and maths, but she never imagined the aspects of those subjects that caught her attention in class in Manorhamilton were a hint of where her career journey was headed.

Even when the recession hit, and she found herself trawling through Sligo IT’s prospectus to remap her path did she ever think her love of science would lead her to becoming a vital cog in the Irish Water wheel.

But Eila McTernan is the perfect example of a student who explored the infinite possibilities of science – the theme of this year’s Science Week.

“Some days I certainly have imposter syndrome and ask myself how I ended up working as a wastewater compliance analyst with Irish Water, but I suppose the writing was always on the wall.

“I grew up on a farm and always loved the outdoors and nature and certain subjects in science class caught my attention more than others – subjects that now tie into my role.

“I also had a fantastic maths teacher and she pushed me to do my best.”

Now Eila’s days are spent ensuring a number of the wastewater treatment plants in the Northwest are compliant with regulations. She manages data keeping a close eye on trends, works closely with local authority colleagues and is a link between Irish Water and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

But she wasn’t always convinced that science was going to play a role in her life.

Armed with an Information Technology course from Sligo IT in 2002, Eila’s working life began carrying out administration duties in Jennings O’Donovan Consulting Engineers in Sligo. Engineers were busy tendering for water and wastewater projects at the time and she soon got an introduction to the world of water and wastewater and the terminology that goes with it.

She was quick to put her hand up when an opportunity came knocking for employees to train in computer aided design before she was put to work on network drawings. Assisting engineers to survey sites also gave her a taste for onsite visits.

But then the economy shuddered to a halt, recession became the buzzword and Eila found herself on a three-day week with too much time to kill.

But again, her resilience shone through, and she turned to Sligo IT for inspiration.

“I’m lucky that Dromahair is so close to Sligo, and I signed up to a course in Science and Environmental Management. It was a great mix of online lectures and in person workshops with visits to different wastewater treatment plants were part of the training.”

She secured a Level 8 Honours degree, and, in the meantime, she had transferred over to the planning and environment department in Jennings and O’Donovan.

“The engineers were working on a lot of wind and solar farms, and they needed environmental impact assessment reports and planning applications so the subjects I had studied aligned nicely with that.”

But it wasn’t all plain sailing. Eila was back working five days a week and juggling study with work.

“I stuck with it from certificate to honours degree. I would be the first to admit I was never the most studious, but I persevered. I enjoyed the course and I got great opportunities to put what I learned into practice at work.”

In 2018 she accepted a job with Irish Water as a Wastewater Compliance Analyst based out of the Cavan office.

She’s proud of her role in ensuring the wastewater systems remains compliant.

“The objective of our wastewater treatment plants is to produce cleaned water that will not harm or pollute the surrounding environment to which it  discharges. To achieve this there are a variety of stages that can take place including a combination of physical, biological and chemical processes.

“The way plants are managed and run in balancing the biological process of the food supply to the bugs that in turn breakdown the food  i.e. waste material is an art form in itself. It’s lovely to go to site and see first-hand the science at play.”

 

 

04 October 2022 – Irish Water has adopted the Regional Water Resources Plan – Eastern and Midlands (RWRP-EM), which will safeguard public health, support growth and meet the challenges of climate change across the East and Midlands region over the next 25 years.

The National Water Resources Plan (NWRP) is Ireland’s first 25-year strategic plan enabling us to move towards safe, secure, reliable, and sustainable public water supplies for all of our customers and communities, whilst safeguarding public health and the environment.

Following on from the adoption of the NWRP draft Framework Plan and associated reports in 2021, the NWRP was split into 4 separate regional plans and following a public consultation on the first regional plan, the RWRP-EM has been updated and adopted by Irish Water along with a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Statement and an Appropriate Assessment Determination.

A consultation report summarising feedback received during the public consultation, along with the RWRP-EM and all associated reports, can be viewed and downloaded at https://www.water.ie/rwrp/eastern-midlands. Alternatively, our team can be contacted at nwrp@water.ie or 1840 46 36 76, by those who may wish to view the RWRP-EM, AA Determination and SEA statement at one of our Offices.

Commenting on the RWRP-EM final Framework Plan, Máiréad Conlon, Regional Water Treatment Planning Specialist with Irish Water, said, “Safeguarding Ireland’s precious water resources is a top priority for Irish Water. With increasing pressure to meet the current demand for water as a result of population growth, climate change, and our changing environmental regulations, it is essential that we plan ahead. The Regional Water Resources Plan – Eastern and Midlands will enable us to do that in a sustainable way, whilst also supporting economic development and population growth across the region.

“How we choose to plan our water resources today will determine the water supply we can provide now and into the future. The Three Pillar approach of ‘Use Less’, ‘Lose Less’ and ‘Supply Smarter’ allows Irish Water to consider the broadest possible range of solutions through the development of the regional plans. We would like to thank everyone who made a submission to the consultation process on the first of our regional plans for the East and Midlands, which has now been adopted.”

There were 64 submissions received in total, including responses from the Office of the Planning Regulator, the Southern Regional Assembly and local authorities in relation to national and regional policy for growth and development.

The public consultation ran from 14 December 2021 to 8 April 2022. Printed copies of the public consultation materials were available for public display in 29 local authority offices and at two county libraries for the duration of the consultation period. Irish Water also facilitated webinars for interested members of the public and both webinars and in-person briefings for elected representatives.

Phase 2 of the NWRP comprises the development of four Regional Water Resources Plans (RWRPs):

•    Regional Water Resources Plan – Eastern & Midlands

•    Regional Water Resources Plan – North West

•    Regional Water Resources Plan – South West

•    Regional Water Resources Plan – South East

Each regional plan will comprise of both a non-statutory screening and scoping consultation with environmental authorities, followed by a statutory public consultation.

Consultation on the Regional Water Resources Plan – Eastern & Midlands is now complete and the plan has been updated and adopted. Consultation on the Regional Water Resources Plan – South West took place between 01 June 2022 and 24 August 2021 and our teams are now working on the post consultation analysis. Consultation on the last two regional plans for the North West and South East will take place later in 2022 and in 2023.

MORE THAN 12,000 PEOPLE IN MONAGHAN USING THE TOILET AS A BIN

 

Clean Coasts and Irish Water urge the public to ‘Think Before You Flush’ in a bid to safeguard our environment

 

Monday 03 October 2022 – Irish Water and Clean Coasts are urging the public to continue to ‘Think Before You Flush’ as a recent survey has revealed that more than 12,000 people living in Monaghan continue to regularly flush wipes and other sanitary items down the toilet. Worryingly those aged under 35 are twice as likely to dispose of ‘flushable’ wipes down the toilet, compared to those aged over 35. No wipes whether marked ‘flushable’ or not should be flushed down the toilet. With sea swimming and the use of our beaches increasingly popular all year-round, it’s a timely reminder that our flushing behaviour has a direct impact on the environment and that making small changes can help prevent sanitary waste ending up on Ireland’s sandy beaches, rocky shores and secluded bays. 

 

A new campaign video targeting under 35 years olds aims to connect with this audience in way that encourages real behavioural change.

 

Broadcaster Bláthnaid Treacy who is also supporting the campaign, said: “I am delighted to support the ‘Think Before You Flush’ campaign. For me, it is important that we all play a positive role when it comes protecting the environment. Collectively, small changes can have a huge impact so I would encourage everyone to consider their flushing habits. It is simple really, just ‘Think Before You Flush’. 

 

Speaking about the survey results Anthony Skeffington, Irish Water said: “In 2018, our research informed us that 36% of people living in Ireland were regularly flushing the wrong things down the toilet. Irish Water have been working in partnership with Clean Coasts on the ‘Think Before You Flush’ campaign and during this time, we have made significant progress, as this figure has now reduced to 21%. Whilst this represents a 42% improvement in people’s flushing behaviour, it still represents almost a million people nationally using the toilet as a bin: that’s more than 12,000 in Co Monaghan. The impacts of flushing the wrong things down the toilet are clear to see, as we are still removing thousands of sewer blockages from our network every month and continue to see this waste ending up on our beaches”. 

 

“Following the latest survey findings, we have a call to action to those aged 35 and under in particular to be mindful of their flushing behaviour as this age profile can really help make the difference. We are keen to remind people that wipes should never be flushed down the toilet even if they are labelled as ‘flushable’. The impact of this waste ending up in our natural environment, on our beaches, shores and riverways is stark. Removing this waste from the sewerage network can be a nasty job which is easily avoided.

 

“Our message is simple: only the 3 Ps, pee, poo and paper should be flushed down the toilet. All other items including wipes and other sanitary products should go in the bin even if they are labelled as flushable. This will reduce the number of sewer blockages, the risk of flooding to homes and businesses and the risk of pollution in the environment harming wildlife such as fish and birds and associated habitats. We have all witnessed the love story unfold between the public and swimming, whether that be at piers, beaches, lakes or rivers. A small change in our flushing behaviour can make a big difference to our natural environment – put wipes, cotton bud sticks and sanitary items in the bin and not down the toilet.”

 

Speaking about the campaign, Sinead McCoy, Clean Coasts said: “The Think Before You Flush campaign, through education and awareness, aims to prevent items like wipes, cotton bud sticks and sanitary items washing up on Ireland’s spectacular beaches. While we have seen a positive improvement in the nation’s flushing behaviour since 2018, one in five adults still admit to regularly flushing unsuitable items down the toilet. By making small changes in our flushing behaviour, we can prevent the harm caused by sewage related litter in our marine environment. We are asking everybody to only flush the 3 P’s – pee, poo and paper – and put everything else in the bin.”

9 September 2022 – Following consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Irish Water and Monaghan County Council can confirm that the Do Not Consume Notice impacting customers supplied by Three Mile House & Togan Public Water Supply Scheme has been lifted with immediate effect and the water is safe to drink. The notice was issued to protect approximately 319 customers following elevated levels of manganese in the water supply.

Peter Gallagher, Regional Operations Lead with Irish Water said: “Irish Water acknowledges and understands the impact this Do Not Consume Notice had on the community and we sincerely regret the inconvenience. Our drinking water compliance and operational experts worked hard to resolve this issue as quickly and as safely as possible and we endeavoured to keep stakeholders updated at every stage of the process. We are grateful to the media, elected representatives and members of the public who shared the information. We would also like to thank Monaghan County Council and the HSE for their input and support throughout the process.”

All consumers on the Three Mile House & Togan Public Water Supply Scheme can now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking, food preparation and brushing teeth.

Irish Water and the Local Authority/Health Service Executive Water Liaison Group will continue to meet and will review ongoing process control, monitoring and testing of the drinking water supply.

If customers have any queries regarding this Do Not Consume Notice and the lifting of it they should contact Irish Water directly on our customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278.

Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.

 

24 August 2022 – Irish Water customers in Monaghan’s Killyconnigan and Newbliss will be happy to learn that works have been completed on two water mains projects.

Irish Water, working in partnership with Monaghan County Council, has completed the replacement of approximately 1.5km of water mains in Killyconnigan. In Newbliss, over 5km of old water mains was also replaced providing both communities with a safer and more secure water supply.

Outlining the benefits of the works, Declan Cawley, Water Network Programme Lead with Irish Water, said completion of both of these projects is another step in improving Monaghan’s water network.

“Irish Water is delighted to have completed these projects for the people of Newbliss and Killyconnigan. Both projects will provide the local communities with a safe and reliable water supply while also reducing the high leakage levels and improving water quality. I’m sure this is welcome news to the local communities as they were previously impacted by unplanned outages when bursts occurred on the old water mains.

“We understand that the delivery of these important works to the underground water network caused disruption to the local communities and we would like to thank the people of Newbliss and Killyconnigan for their patience and cooperation while we completed these projects. Both projects were completed by Farrans Construction Limited and we would like to thank them for their diligence throughout.”

Irish Water is working with local Authorities across the country to reduce leakage and provide customers with a more reliable water supply. Fixing leaks can be complicated but we are making progress. In 2018 the rate of leakage nationally was 46%, by the end of 2021 it was 38% and now we are on track to achieve a national leakage rate of 25% by the end of 2030.

Since 2018, Irish Water has invested more than €500 million to upgrade the underground water network across the country through the delivery of the Leakage Reduction Programme. We are investing a further €250 million every year up to the end of 2030 – fixing leaks and replacing pipes to provide a more reliable water supply.

For more information on the Leakage Reduction Programme please visit www.water.ie/reducingleaks

1 July 2022 – Irish Water has launched a new Experience Based Accreditation Scheme that will be available for Experienced Contractors in Monaghan. The scheme will accredit Experienced Contractors to deliver new water services infrastructure in public roads for housing developers.

This is the latest initiative as part of Irish Water’s commitment to support the delivery of housing across Ireland. The scheme supports the efficient delivery of essential water services infrastructure in the public road by Experienced Contractors while ensuring best practice procedures and standards.

It follows the successful rollout of Irish Water’s self lay in the public road programme, whereby developers can deliver water and wastewater infrastructure in the public roads to service new housing developments. The new scheme, which has been launched 18 months ahead of schedule, recognises contractors’ adherence to Irish Water’s Standard Details, Codes of Practice and Quality Assurance procedures. These best practice procedures and standards have been developed by Irish Water to prevent a reoccurrence of legacy issues that exist across the country.

                             

Welcoming the self-lay programme and the new accreditation scheme, Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, said: “This latest initiative from Irish Water is another fantastic step forward in ensuring housing developments are completed efficiently across the country. I’m delighted to see such support for my Department’s Housing For All strategy, and to see Experienced Contractors across Ireland support the efficient delivery of homes. Irish Water listened to industry calls and responded quickly. Through the Housing For All strategy, my Department aims to see an average of 33,000 homes provided each year to 2030, and to know these homes will be completed as efficiently as possible is a fantastic assurance.”

The scheme, which is also supported by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), the Irish Homebuilders Association and Commission for Regulation of Utilities, is the latest in a number of initiatives Irish Water has implemented to support Government’s Housing For All strategy.

Other initiatives include the publication of water and wastewater capacity registers which give an indication of the capacity of water and wastewater treatment plants all around the country, making it easier for developers and local authorities to prioritise areas with services.

As part of its commitment to open communication, Irish Water has also hosted several webinars for industry players to explain the application process and to highlight issues that may cause delays in the process.

The utility continues to support the housing industry through its dedicated connections and developer services team which offers a range of resources and support material, including extending a helping hand through the entire process from housing development pre-planning stage right through to construction.

These initiatives have resulted in strong progress being made in the delivery of housing, with over 32,000 housing connections offered by Irish Water in 2021.

Yvonne Harris, Irish Water’s Housing Programme Director, said: “We are committed to supporting Government’s drive in developing more homes across the country and ensuring these homes can be completed efficiently. We’ve launched our new Experienced Based Accreditation Scheme following calls from industry where, following a series of webinars with industry members, many highlighted the need for self-lay of water services infrastructure in public roads for new housing developments. Irish Water listened and is now ensuring that Experienced Contractors across every county in Ireland can become accredited to deliver new water services infrastructure in public roads for new housing developments.

“We have ensured our Experience Based Accreditation Scheme is easy and hassle-free to register for, and we’ve already seen strong interest from applicants. It ensures safe and reliable water services will continue to be provided to new home buyers and existing residents, now and into the future.”

James Benson, Director of Housing, Planning & Development with CIF, added: “CIF welcomes this excellent initiative by Irish Water which will facilitate us to deliver housing in a timely and efficient manner. Our members are committed to meeting the highest standards in the construction of housing and associated infrastructure. This Experience Based Accreditation Scheme recognises this and supports the ongoing development of expertise in the water industry by developers and contractors through accreditation.”

Shane Carty of Carty Contractors, a contractor who participated in the pilot self lay programme, said: “We welcome the proposal by Irish Water to establish an accreditation scheme that will recognise the positive engagement by Contractors with Irish Water’s requirements since 2014

Public urged to continue to consider the environment and alternatives to pesticides when gardening, farming and maintaining sports grounds 

 Issued Thursday, 28 April 2022 – Three exceedances of the pesticide 2,4-D and MCPA were detected in the public drinking water supplies in Emyvale, Glaslough and Lough Egish Regional Water Supply Scheme (LERWSS) in 2021. These exceedances were detected as part of Irish Water’s public water supply monitoring programme. MCPA is still the most commonly detected pesticide in drinking water sources and is present in many commonly used herbicide products used to control thistles, docks and rushes.

There was a reduction in the number of exceedances for pesticides in public drinking water supplies in Monaghan last year, according to Irish Water. In 2020 the utility detected five exceedances for MCPA as part of its ongoing monitoring, however, this had reduced to three exceedances for 2,4-D and MCPA in 2021.

The Emyvale, Glaslough and LERWSS water supplies abstracts raw water from Emy Lough and Lough Bawn, both of which are vulnerable to runoff from land. Irish Water is asking users of any herbicide or pesticide products to continue to consider the vulnerability of their local drinking water supplies to pesticide contamination and the importance of these supplies to local homes and businesses in the community.

Irish Water, working in partnership with a range of organisations involved in the NPDWAG, is asking the farming community, greens keepers, grounds keepers, and also domestic users of pesticides, to consider in each case whether they need to use pesticides at all. Minimising pesticide use not only helps to protect water quality but also has wider environmental benefits. For example, leaving areas unsprayed can help native flowering plant species to grow and support a range of insects including bees and other vital pollinators. One third of Ireland’s bee species are threatened with extinction and by helping the bee population survive and thrive we are also helping to protect our precious water sources. For more information on practical ways to help bees and other pollinators, check out the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan at www.pollinators.ie. Farmers should also bear in mind that application of herbicides reduces sward species diversity and could negatively impact on payments in future agri-environmental schemes.

Where pesticide use is considered necessary, the NPDWAG is working with local communities to ensure that best practice measures to protect drinking water sources and biodiversity are always followed. Farmers and other landholders dealing with the challenge of rushes should note Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) guidance on the sustainable management of rushes. This approach is based on the concepts of containment or suppression, and aims to minimise the use of pesticides. More information on this can be obtained from your local farm advisor or on www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie/sud/waterprotection

The NPDWAG is chaired by the DAFM and involves key stakeholders from a range of Government departments and agencies, local authorities, industry representative bodies, farming organisation, water sector organisations and amenity sector organisations.

Dr Pat O’Sullivan, Irish Water’s Regional Drinking Water Compliance Specialist said: “In Co Monaghan, the exceedances of the drinking water regulations for 2,4-D and MCPA were noted in the Emyvale, Glaslough and LERWSS public water supplies following routine sampling. While our consultation with the HSE has concluded that the levels we are detecting do not represent a threat to public health, they are still however undesirable in drinking water and it is therefore imperative that users of pesticides are mindful of best practice when using herbicides or pesticides and seek out alternatives.”

Adding to this, Dr Aidan Moody, DAFM and Chair of NPDWAG commented: “We need the continued engagement of all stakeholders, working in partnership, make further progress. Users of pesticides must always consider alternatives in the first instance and if the application of pesticides is considered essential make sure that they follow best practice measures to protect water quality.”

If pesticides have to be used, the basic steps to reduce risks to drinking water sources and the aquatic environment are:

• Choose the right pesticide product (note that products containing MCPA are NOT approved for use in weed-wipers, and are not permitted to be used from the end of September until the beginning of March)
• Read and follow the product label
• Determine the right amount to purchase and use
• Don’t use pesticides if rain is forecast in the next 48 hours
• Make sure you are aware of the location of all nearby water courses
• Comply with any buffer zone specified on the product label to protect the aquatic environment. Mark out the specified buffer zone from the edge of the river or lake or other water course and drainage ditches
• Avoid spills, stay well back from open drains and rinse empty containers 3 times into the sprayer.
• Store and dispose of pesticides and their containers properly. 
• Never fill a sprayer directly from a water course or carry out mixing, loading or other handling operations beside a water course

 Further guidance:

• A video on the best practice use and application of products containing MCPA can be viewed on Irish Water’s YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/xQqtZ7jifUs
• Information leaflets on pesticide use are also available to download from the Teagasc website at www.teagasc.ie/environment/water-quality/farming-for-water-quality-assap/improving-my-water-quality/protecting-drinking-water-from-pesticides/
• A guide providing 10 easy steps towards responsible pesticide use in public and amenity and garden areas is available at www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie/media/pesticides/content/sud/ResponsiblePesticideUsePublicAmenityGardenAreas200217.pdf