2007 LEVELS OF E COLI HIGH IN GALWAY PRIVATE WATER SCHEMES

Date Published: 23-Apr-2009

50 private group water schemes in Galway were contaminated with E-Coli in 2007, according to the latest report from the Environmental Protection Agency.The report shows the parasite, which is an indicator of human or animal faeces, was detected in almost a third of private supplies nationally during 2007 and 2008.The report also shows that a large number of local authorities have failed to install chlorine monitors on their water treatment plants, a move which can prevent outbreaks of e-coli.Galway County Council was fined 4 thousand euro for failing to install a chlorine monitor and alarm.Meanwhile, of 64 water supplies identified in 2007 as having no treatment barrier to remove cryptosporidium, only 7 of them installed one since the Galway outbreak of the bug.