Hi Susan –

Its very difficult to answer your question, partly because we can’t get any test results after 2009 – so we don’t know what’s in the water now.

In Schull, there were 9 recorded tests for THMs since 2003, and 7 of the results showed > 100ug/L THMs, ranging from 103 to 231ug/L. 100ug/ is the World Health Organisation recommended maximum limit for drinking water.

Despite that, there are NO recorded retests shown, in fact the level of testing was cut from 2 or 3 tests a year, to just one test per year in 2008 and 2009.

Asking the Council is good – the EPA and the Health and Safety Executive are working on a position which should include the issue of public notification and an assessment of the risk so we may know more – in time.

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Hi Susan –

Its very difficult to answer your question, partly because we can’t get any test results after 2009 – so we don’t know what’s in the water now.

In Schull, there were 9 recorded tests for THMs since 2003, and 7 of the results showed > 100ug/L THMs, ranging from 103 to 231ug/L. 100ug/ is the World Health Organisation recommended maximum limit for drinking water.

Despite that, there are NO recorded retests shown, in fact the level of testing was cut from 2 or 3 tests a year, to just one test per year in 2008 and 2009.

Asking the Council is good – the EPA and the Health and Safety Executive are working on a position which should include the issue of public notification and an assessment of the risk so we may know more – in time.

Their general position is that the safety of the treatment process - the use of chlorine to eliminate biological risks - can not be comprimised to avoid the chemical risks arrising from the by-product THMs, but this begs the question of why they are providing water which contains THMs above the WHO limit - as if everyone who uses chlorine just has to put up with carcenogenic substances in their water - pure nonsense.

They have tried to cure one health problem and created another.

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Hi, just wondering if you can give me a litle bit more information regarding this article. I live in Schull and use the public water supply and I am very worried about not only myself drinking the water but also my children.Many friends, having read your article ( i posted it on my facebook page) have been stocking up on bottled water. I called my local council offices this morning and they are going to look into it. So i suppose my questions are
1. can i drink the water if i boil it.?
2. will the council have to supply another water supply if they close this treatment centre?
3. What can we do to get a speedy solution.
4. is there a safe limit of THMs?
Kind regards, Susan Shields
a worried schull resident.

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