Nearly 1,000 people complained to Irish Water that water in their homes made them sick
Ken Foxe
Nearly 1,000 people complained to Irish Water that the water supply from the taps in their homes had made them sick over the past two years.
The biggest number of complaints from the 973 total came from the Cork City area where 105 people believed they had become ill from drinking water.
Irish Water said every single one of the incidents had been investigated but there was no verified illness related to any of the queries received.
They said the supply network in Ireland was of a very high quality with over 99 per cent of the country’s water supplies fully compliant with drinking water standards.
Figures released under FOI show that there were 472 complaints made about water making people sick in 2023.
There was a slight rise last year when 501 householders said they believed they became ill because of water supply issues.
The Cork City Council area was a particular hotspot for complaints with 62 last year and 43 in 2023.
The city has had well-documented issues with water supplies and ongoing controversy over the discolouration of drinking water.
The next highest number of complaints came from the Dublin City Council area, with 88 residents claiming they became ill after drinking tap water.
There were also 61 complaints from the Cork County Council area, 58 in CoKildare and 54 in Co Clare.
Some counties registered hardly any complaints at all with just five in Co Monaghan, four in Co Leitrim, and three in Co Laois.
Data from Irish Water also shows spikes in complaints during certain months from a single county.
In August of last year for example, there were 23 complaints in a single month from residents of Co Clare.
Similarly in May of 2023, 20 complaints were received from householders in Co Kildare about illness and water supply.
Irish Water said that while they were able to supply the number of complaint cases, this did not represent “actual proven illnesses.”
They said any complaint that mentioned illness was treated seriously and sent at once for investigation.
A spokesperson said: “There was no verified illness due to drinking water quality related to any of the complaints received.”
They said an extensive water quality monitoring regime was in place and any issues around drinking water regulations were notified to the HSE.
“Regular engagement between the HSE and [Irish Water] takes place where this surveillance indicates possible water vectors of transmission,” they said.
The spokesperson added that if there were any issues, immediate notifications including boil water notices or do not consume notices were issued to protect public health.
