Two Dublin water zones remain affected by boil water notices or restrictions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s annual report on drinking water quality. This comes despite a broader national trend of improvement in public water safety and infrastructure.
The Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies Report 2024 shows that 99.8% of water samples from across the country met bacterial and chemical standards, and the number of vulnerable supplies has dropped from 57 to 45.
However, DLR Zone 2 in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown has been under a boil water notice since September 2023, while DCC Zone 6 in Dublin City remains under a water restriction issued in December 2024.
The EPA’s Remedial Action List (RAL) identifies water supplies lacking the necessary treatment or infrastructure to ensure consistent safety. Nationally, nearly half a million people are still served by at-risk systems.
Dr Micheál Lehane of the EPA said the quality of drinking water is high, but urged Uisce Éireann to improve resilience and complete overdue infrastructure works.
The agency also raised concerns about the continued presence of lead in the water supply network, warning that progress on removal has been “far too slow.” The EPA called on the government and Uisce Éireann to prioritise removing lead pipes, particularly as legal limits tighten in the coming years.
Dublin was not among the counties with supplies listed on the RAL for chemical or bacterial contamination, but the presence of long-standing notices in the capital underscores the ongoing challenge of water system resilience.
The public can access the full report and current notices on the EPA’s website.
