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Last month,a boil water notice impacted 600,000 customers in the greater Dublin area. Shutterstock/fizkes

Water treatment 'not sufficient' to manage Cryptosporidium risks at Leixlip plant, says EPA

The EPA says the level of treatment at Leixlip is not sufficient to manage the risk posed by the River Liffey source water.

THERE IS A “deficit” of treatment for Cryptosporidium and Giardia at the Leixlip Water Treatment Plant, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA will tell an Oireachtas committee today that the level of treatment at the plant “is not sufficient to manage the risk posed by the River Liffey source water”.

Officials from Irish Water, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and Fingal County Council will also appear before the committee today.

Their appearance comes as a boil water notice was reissued last night. The renewed notice impacts some 600,000 customers in the greater Dublin are, including Meath and Kildare. 

Irish Water said said that cloudy water in the source water for the old Leixlip Plant has exceeded acceptable levels, yet again.

A similar boil notice was issued at the end of last month, which resulted in the officials being called before today’s Oireachtas committee.

Dr Tom Ryan, Director Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) and the EPA will tell TDs today that in particular, there is currently a deficit for treatment of parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia at the Leixlip plant.

While filter upgrade works are underway to reduce this deficit, it “will not be sufficient to confirm adequate treatment”, Ryan states in his opening statement. 

Illness

Cryptosporidium is a parasite that is found in human or animal waste.

If it is present in drinking water, it can cause diarrhea. Illness is often more severe in
small children and elderly people.

Giardiais is a microscopic parasite that also causes the diarrhea. 

The EPA has recommended that ultraviolet disinfection be considered by Irish Water as an additional treatment barrier to deactivate Cryptosporidium and Giardia at the Leixlip water treatment plant.

“As an ultimate fail safe, ultraviolet disinfection will inactivate any Cryptosporidium/Giardia parasites in the water supply, to ensure the protection of public health,” he states. 

Outlining the series of events that led to October’s boil notice, Ryan states the incident began at 3pm on Monday 21 October and ended at 5am on Tuesday 22 October when remedial works restored the affected production line.

The committee will be told that a blockage resulted in operational difficulties with the water treatment processes and gave rise to elevated cloudiness levels in treated water, also known as turbidity levels.

This is the same reason cited last night for the boil notice being reissued.

The cloudy water from the source water indicated last month that there was a significant risk to the safety of the water supply because the treatment barrier for removal of Cryptosporidium and Giardia was compromised, states Ryan.

He adds that there was a risk of breakthrough of microscopic parasites into the water supply.

The committee will also be told that there was a failure to respond to multiple alarms that were activated in response to the elevated turbidity.

Members will also be told today that the EPA highlighted the risk of this type of incident occurring during an audit of Leixlip water treatment plant in March 2019, following a mechanical failure of chemical dosing pumps at the plant.

It recommended that plant operators respond immediately to any alarms generated and that if an operator fails to respond to an alarm, that Irish Water should ensure that the plant automatically shuts down, to prevent inadequately treated water being supplied to consumers.

The EPA’s 2018 report highlighted that Cryptosporidium detection has increased in the past three years. It was detected in 25 public water supplies in 2018, up from 17 in 2017 and 12 in 2016.

During 2018, 44 boil notices were in place in 14 counties affecting 97,204 people. This is
an increase compared to 2017, during which 42 boil notices were in place affecting 21,657
people.

Over 13,500 people were also affected by 12 precautionary boil notices issued due to Storm Emma in March 2018.

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31 Comments
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    Mute DJ François
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    Jun 17th 2020, 7:50 AM

    Trumpflake whinges about freedom of speech on twitter, while trying to censor a book.

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    Mute Nicholas O'Halloran
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    Jun 17th 2020, 7:16 AM

    Would love to buy it

    154
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    Mute Joe Bloggs
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    Jun 17th 2020, 7:44 AM

    @Nicholas O’Halloran: I’d say Bolton & the publishers are delighted with this, it’s going to push sales through the roof.

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    Mute Joe Toner
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    Jun 17th 2020, 7:35 AM

    It hasn’t been “vetted” yet!!. When that’s done the book will run to about 3 pages…..

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    Mute Evan
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    Jun 17th 2020, 7:50 AM

    @Joe Toner: its just the bit between contents and index they have an issue with, to be fair.

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    Mute Paul Potts
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    Jun 17th 2020, 8:10 AM

    Get it on the shelves.

    49
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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Jun 17th 2020, 7:55 AM

    The book should not be published.

    A man that worked in a Goverment Administration that is still sitting should be restricted from publishing such a book.

    There should be a time frame for such books something like 5 years after that particular administration has ended.

    51
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    Mute Brendan Greene
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    Jun 17th 2020, 8:03 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: nonsense. Numerous ex-ministers and advisers of sitting governments all around the w p rld have published books.

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    Mute Locojoe
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    Jun 17th 2020, 8:10 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: Transparency in Government?

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Jun 17th 2020, 8:34 AM

    @Brendan Greene: why is it nonsense?
    It is an attempt to cash in, and possibly interfere in an upcoming election.

    I would not like to see it ever happen in Ireland..

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    Mute Edmund Murphy
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    Jun 17th 2020, 8:58 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: if what he says us true the it’s important for the next election. Informed voters is what you want in a democracy. If it’s not true then trump can sue.

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    Mute Arch Angel
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    Jun 17th 2020, 9:02 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: I can see your point and, ordinarily, I’d agree with you, however these are far from ordinary times and there have already been several books written from inside this administration.
    There’s also the assumption that John Bolton will break the national secrets act and release some sort of juicy, salacious gossip which I very much doubt. The man has been around far too long and is far too seasoned to do something so stupid, no what he can do is give an honest, view of Trump one that may be very unflattering and believable. They may be able to stop this release within the US but not internationally, and it will leak back into America, so a wasted exercise.

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    Mute Joe Toner
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    Jun 17th 2020, 9:58 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan:
    Might not be a bad thing.

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    Mute Peter Hughes
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    Jun 17th 2020, 10:39 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: Let me guess lies and toxic poison form Trump and his followers etc ok but facts in a book not ok……I expect nothing less no wonder the US is such a mess.

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    Mute Terry McClatchey
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    Jun 17th 2020, 11:33 AM

    @Arch Angel: The threat however is to use civil law to protect Trump’s personal reputation. If the issue was genuinely one of national security, it would be an issue for criminal law and official prosecutors.

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    Mute Sam Greene
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    Jun 17th 2020, 11:38 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: why? If there are concerns about trumps behaviour as President, then they should be known, we all get Performance Reviews in our jobs, this is Trumps performance review. No wonder hes worried.

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    Mute Arch Angel
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    Jun 17th 2020, 11:46 AM

    @Terry McClatchey: Perhaps it’s one masquerading as the other. We know Trump has a somewhat inflated ego and likes to believe he’s a genius in all areas. It wouldn’t be impossible for him, fearing ridicule, to issue civil proceedings based upon claims of threats to national security.

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 17th 2020, 1:17 PM

    @Arch Angel: I don’t think John Bolton can give an honest view of much at all

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    Mute Kevin
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    Jun 17th 2020, 1:37 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan:

    How many voters ever cast their ballot based on some overhyped political potboiler that hits the shelves 5 months before an election? There’s a myriad of channels for political“interference” when attempting to influence the electorate. It’s been 50:50 Rep:Dem for decades in the US & For those who will bother to vote their minds are mostly made up. Bolton is a militant ultra nationalist right winger who has the smarts, tenacity and vindictiveness to tell DJT to GFHIMSELF. This is more about a personal vendetta than anything else.

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    Mute Paul Mcnevin
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    Jun 17th 2020, 3:21 PM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: So Trump is doing fine as the US president?

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    Mute ahhhhh its
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    Jun 17th 2020, 8:54 AM

    Jack Simpson: something something mr Tough guy Bolton, something sleepy Joe, something something dem hoax, something no he can use ramps and drink water unaided, he was sabotaged by Obama

    Etc etc

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    Mute Edmund Murphy
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    Jun 17th 2020, 9:00 AM

    @ahhhhh its: was jack bot on again with its I love trump, Putin did nothing wrong script?

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    Mute Wayne Connor
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    Jun 17th 2020, 12:03 PM

    @ahhhhh its: don’t say his name 3 times cos then he’ll appear !

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    Mute Simon Power
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    Jun 17th 2020, 9:59 AM

    This Court case is a marketing coup for Bolton’s book. Nothing sells faster than a “banned book.”

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    Mute Isabel Oliveira
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    Jun 17th 2020, 10:55 AM

    What a sad day that anyone considers John Bolton as a voice to be heard . War criminal of the worst kind.

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    Mute John Moloney
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    Jun 17th 2020, 10:40 AM

    I wonder will john bolton tell as much lies in this book as he did when he national security adviser i don’t think thats possible but we will wait and see

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    Mute Sam Greene
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    Jun 17th 2020, 9:30 PM

    @John Moloney: well he wont wont be the only liar then would he. Trump rolls lies off his tongue every week and gets away with it.

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    Mute Dave Harris
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    Jun 17th 2020, 9:50 AM

    Some advice for Donald J Trump- if you don’t want people to write books about how bad your presidency is, stop doing stupid things!

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 17th 2020, 4:56 PM

    @Dave Harris: amd a follow up, if they do write a book don’t mention it, don’t fight it. I swear he must have shares in publishers.

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    Mute eddie horgan
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    Jun 17th 2020, 10:40 AM

    I doubt Bolton hasn’t taken due diligence before having the book ready for sale

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    Mute WreckDefier
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    Jun 17th 2020, 9:00 AM

    Apart from Trump and Bolton when one signs a conditions of employment
    document for any job which includes not revealing sensitive information
    to the public, then one is obviously in breach of conditions of employment.

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    Mute Cowboy Paddy
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    Jun 17th 2020, 12:56 PM

    @WreckDefier:
    You are a federal employee, held by a federal employee contract…

    Read the contract and find the place where it says you can’t write a book…

    Trump tried to get WH staff to sign a different (more secretive contract) but that was grossly illegal…

    John Bolton didn’t work for Trump. He worked for the US People and apart from state secrets, he can say what he likes…

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    Mute WreckDefier
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    Jun 17th 2020, 1:57 PM

    @Cowboy Paddy: The article here states that “The Department of Justice lawsuit says Bolton failed to have the text vetted, meaning his book would be in clear breach of agreements HE signed as a condition of his employment and as a condition of gaining access to highly classified information”. This, the DOJ says, “risks compromising National security”.
    There will be many more greedy people like Bolton who will make a lot of money out of all this and who don’t give a fiddlers
    about what Trump did or did not do during his presidency.

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    Mute Gavin Burke
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    Jun 17th 2020, 1:19 PM

    Bit I thought Bolton was the best guy for the job?
    Until he was fired!
    Like when he said he would drain the swamp of corruption and thibgs like nepotism.
    Then hired all his family!
    And I thought he was the most open President in history??
    But then why does he sue people, and pay hush money and hide tax returns and put gag orders on people?
    And was is all news that doesnt praise him fake?
    And how come the election is onlh rigged if he loses in his opinion?
    #notaleader

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    Mute Evan
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    Jun 17th 2020, 11:32 AM

    He should just use his aides vaccine.

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    Mute Wade Wilson
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    Jun 17th 2020, 5:49 PM

    Trump: Bolton’s boom is full of lies!

    Also Trump: Everything in Bolton’s book is classified!

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