EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Ireland’s Environment – An Integrated Assessment 2020 Importantly, many of the health-relevant actions under the National Planning Framework 2040 are also linked to and reinforced by the government’s Climate Action Plan. It is essential that the ambitions of the National Planning Framework 2040 are realised through appropriate implementation and translation from national level through to regional and local levels, where local development plans and proposals are made. It is also important that, from the outset, urban environments and green and blue spaces are collaborative and inclusive in their design and implementation. This will ensure that the various needs of local stakeholders and end-users, of all ages, are appropriately considered and catered for. Spaces designed to support specific functions have a tendency to attract more limited user groups. By contrast, multifunctional areas incorporating spaces supporting active mobility, sports, physical activity, relaxation and opportunities for social interaction can provide an array of health benefits for multiple user groups (Grilli et al. , 2020; Scott et al. , 2020). www.epa.ie ReportNo. Green and Blue Spaces and Health: A Health-led Approach Authors:RonanFoley,MichaelBrennan,OludunsinArodudu, GeraldMills,TineNingalandMalachyBradley 264 www.epa.ie Eco-Health: Ecosystem Benefits of Greenspace for Health Authors:MarkScott,MickLennon,OwenDouglasandCraigBullock Report No.328 www.epa.ie ReportNo. 348 Nature and Environment to Attain and Restore Health (NEAR Health) Authors:CaitrionaCarlin,GescheKindermann,EaskeyBritton,MartinCormican, ChristineDomegan,MikeGormallyandDiarmuidO’Donovan ReportNo. www.epa.ie ResearchonAspectsof Ireland’sEnvironment, ConsumerBehaviourandHealth:ESRI EnvironmentResearchProgramme2016-2018 Editor:SeánLyons.Authors: AchimAhrens, JohnCurtis,SeraphimDempsey,MelT.Devine,Tom Gillespie,GianlucaGrilli,StephenHynes,RonanC.Lyons,PeterD.Lunn,SeánLyons,Terence J. McElvaney,EdgarMorgenroth,KyleMoore,MartinMurphy,ÁineNíChoisdealbhaandAnneNolan. 295 EPA-ReportCover-295-Oct19-v5.indd 1 25/10/2019 11:23 3. National Issues around Protecting our Environment, Health and Wellbeing Drinking Water Safe drinking water is essential for public health. The microbiological quality of private water supplies remains inferior to that of public supplies. While most public water supplies are safe, further improvements are necessary to make sure that they stay safe in the future. Safe drinking water is essential for public health. To be considered safe, water must not contain microorganisms and substances that could endanger health, such as pathogenic parasites, chemical contaminants or particulates. In addition to the standard monitored and regulated contaminants of drinking water, knowledge about further risks to water quality is emerging from a better understanding of the issues around new chemical formulations and the combined use of chemicals (adverse impacts of mixtures) and their occurrence in the environment, which is discussed later in this chapter. Most public drinking water in Ireland is drawn from rivers and lakes (80%), and the remainder originates from groundwater boreholes (13%) and springs (7%). In 2019, Ireland had 787 public water supplies serving 1.3 million households. The results of the 2019 drinking water monitoring programme for public water supplies shows 99.9 per cent compliance with the microbiological standards and 99.6 per cent compliance with the chemical standards, based on over 120,000 test results (EPA, 2020a). While this indicates that the majority of public water supplies are safe, further improvements are necessary to make sure that they stay safe in the future, thereby avoiding the risk of ‘boil water notices’ or ‘do not consume notices’. In total, 67 boil notices were in place in 16 counties affecting 695,364 consumers in 2019. Of those boil water notices, 59 were in place for more than 30 days, meaning they are classed as long-term notices requiring investment in infrastructure to address. Two boil water notices for over 600,000 consumers in 2019 highlights the vulnerability of our drinking water supplies. Details on the reasons for the boil water notices, performance in fixing the supplies, along with the names of the supplies with boil water notices in place during 2019 are provided in the EPA report on Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies 201 9 (EPA, 2020a). The overall compliance figures also mask slightly inferior results for a few individual parameters, notably trihalomethanes (THMs) at 96.1 per cent compliance, which is lower than in other European counties. The EPA has identified 52 supplies (as at July 2020) that are most in need of upgrading, replacement or improved operational control (Figure 14.1). 356