The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Inspection Plan for 2019 also found that 51% of systems were failing.

MORE than a quarter of domestic water treatment systems inspected last year posed a risk to human health, it emerged yesterday.

And the same ratio (26%) were deemed to present a threat to the environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Inspection Plan for 2019 also found that 51% of systems were failing altogether.

An EPA spokesman said: “While there has been progress, the failure to resolve older cases remains a concern and must be addressed as priority.”

Almost three-quarters 73% of fixed systems failed inspections between 2013 and 2016.

Mary Mulcahy, of Ireland Waste Water, who said more rigorous testing is needed, added: “The statistics in the EPAs most recent report are stark and they are a testament to the fact that there is not enough being done on building awareness the problems and of supports available to uphold standards.

“One of the major challenges is that local authorities, engineers and homeowners themselves are ultimately responsible for maintaining these standards on a daily basis, yet neither has enough knowledge or know-how to do so.”

Source: https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/more-quarter-domestic-water-treatment-18650103