New lead laws may hit home-owners in the pipes

FRESH concerns have been expressed about lead in the county’s water supply as preparations are being made to tighten acceptable levels across Europe.

Green Party Councillor Brian Meaney believes the move will have implications for water users in the county, as the standard of 25 micrograms per litre will be reduced by more than half to 10 micrograms in December 2013.

The councillor said the reduction is “fully justified to protect public health” however he is concerned that homes currently in compliance may find themselves outside of that come December.

The standard will apply at consumers’ cold water taps, with Councillor Meaney adding that a further tightening of the lead standard may be necessary as health concerns have increased.

“Lead is a cumulative poison, the body cannot get rid of it and it builds up over time. Lead affects the nervous system and can retard some aspects of child development,” he said.

Councillor Meaney’s concerns were recently outlined at a meeting of Ennis Town Council where he asked if the council was satisfied that all houses with lead piping will comply with the new standard.

Leonard Cleary, town clerk, stated the matter is currently being researched by the Water Services Department of Clare County Council. Town manager Ger Dollard stated he had “no doubt” best practice will be abided.

According to Councillor Meaney, “The best solution in Ennis and Clare will be the wholesale replacement of lead pipes. This would involve great cost and inconvenience and is complicated by lead pipes being partly owned by the water supplier and partly owned by the property owner. Nevertheless, replacement of all lead pipes must be the long-term aim and a strategy for doing this should be developed for towns like Ennis.”

The change in lead levels will bring the Irish standard in line with the World Health Organisation guideline value.

Councillor Meaney added, “Clare County Council may have no option but to consider reducing the plumbosolvency of its water supplies (how readily they dissolve lead) by dosing with a corrosion inhibitor which can, depending on circumstances, offer a rapid approach for achieving substantial compliance with the new EU lead standards. This may mean a further cost to the council and with water charges being planned, this will be borne by the consumer.

“The current method advocated in Ennis for houses with lead pipes is the flushing standing water from the pipework after a period of non-use or early in the morning but recent research suggests that it would be necessary to flush pipework before every period of use, resulting in considerable increases in water consumption. In the US, homeowners with lead pipes are fitting simple point-of-use treatment devices. I don’t know if these filters are available here or how reliable they are. One way or the other the business of supplying safe drinking water is going to get a lot more complicated and will represent another challenge to Clare County Council.”

Ennis Town Council is currently in the process of a lead watermain replacement programme at Marian Avenue, Linnane Terrace and Ahern’s Terrace. The work at Ahern’s Terrace was completed in November of last year.