CONCERNS have been raised over lead piping in the Irish Estates area of Corbally.
According to Sinn Féin councillor for City North, John Costelloe, the number of houses in the city that are not having water pipes upgraded is “frightening”.
This week he raised the “very serious issue” of lead piping in the Irish Estates.
“Local residents of the Irish Estates contacted me as it would seem there is a lottery system in place to decide which houses will receive new piping that reduces the level of lead in their water supply,” Cllr Costelloe claimed.
“The residents of Rhebogue Avenue and Plassey Avenue are questioning how Irish Water decided which house will or will not have works done. A new Lead Pipe Replacement Grant Scheme has been introduced and the residents who are not getting the free upgrade are furious to be told that their option is to avail of the scheme, which does not recognise people’s right to clean water in their homes,” he explained.
Under the Lead Pipe Replacement Scheme, households with an annual income of up to €50,000 will be eligible to apply for a grant of 80 per cent of approved costs to a maximum of €4,000. Households with incomes between €50,001 and €75,000 will be eligible for a grant of 50 per cent of approved costs to a maximum of €2,500.
Describing it as “another chapter in the shambles that is Irish Water”, Cllr Costelloe said the government needs to allocate the necessary funding to ensure that all households have safe, clean drinking water.
A spokeswoman for Irish Water insisted that drinking water is free from lead.
“While there is currently no known lead water mains in Ireland, internal plumbing, service connection pipes and shared service connections may contain lead pipework, especially in buildings constructed up to the 1970s. This is an acknowledged health risk and for the first time, we are putting a plan in place to address the issue of lead piping.
“Where there are internal lead pipes, it remains the responsibility of the householder to replace them. Irish Water replace the service connection, which connects the homeowner’s piping to the public water mains, in all cases where the homeowner replaces the internal pipes. A grant scheme is available to homeowners to assist with the cost of replacing lead pipes and fittings containing lead in their property. This is administered by individual local authorities, including Limerick City and County Council.”
by Alan Jacques
