Improving Standards of Drinking Water

The South Zoonoses Committee, continues to promote awareness of safe drinking water.  The Zoonoses Committee was delighted with the outcome of a recent comprehensive seminar addressing the subject in Kilkenny, where the issues were discussed by key speakers.

Sponsored by Safefood (the Food safety Information Board) the seminar entitled "Water - How Well is your Water?" was attended by many of the professionals concerned with such matters in the south east including, local authority experts, Environmental Health Officers and Public Health officials.

Opening the event, Mr. Seamus Moore (Regional Manager, South Eastern Health Board) emphasised the need for clean drinking water. He went on to point out that in the south east counties, up to 20% people get their water from private supplies. On behalf of the Board, he wised the Zoonoses Committee well in its' work under the Chairmanship of Mr. Noel Shanaghy, Chief Medical Scientist of the Microbiology Department at Waterford Regional Hospital.

Those in attendance benefited from contributions from five professionals engaged in the monitoring of drinking water and ensuring its' quality. Mr. Donal Daly (Senior Geologist, Geological Society of Ireland) outlined issues to be addressed in relation to ground water protection. Dr. Mary Hickey (Consultant Microbiologist at Waterford Regional Hospital) detailed the legionella hazards pertaining to water. Mr. John McKee, a Principal Environmental Health Officer in the Northern Irish Health Services, spoke of lessons learned in that jurisdiction. Mr. David Clancy, a Medical Scientist at Waterford Regional Hospital, and Dr. Máire O' Connor, a Specialist in Public Health Medicine with the South Eastern Health Board addressed issues in respect of testing and the recommendations of the National Disease Surveillance Centre.

Further information on matters discussed at the seminar are available from Dr. Ann Marie O' Byrne, Specialist in Public Health Medicine at the Public Health Department in the South Eastern Health Board Head Office, telephone (056) 778 41008.

*The South East Zoonoses Committee has representatives from statutory bodies including health, local authority, Veterinary and agricultural.