There was relief in the Aghancon Valley, Co Offaly, this weekend as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared water from a number of private wells in the valley fit for human consumption.
While the EPA said it would continue to monitor the situation, Offaly County Council, which had advised locals not to drink the water, immediately lifted its warning, saying that the water was well within drinking water standards.
The finding that the water was fit for human consumption is also in line with tests carried out by the EPA on February 3rd. The findings have been welcomed by the Minister of State, Mr Tom Parlon, whose mother and brother have water supplies from local wells.
Concern originally arose after earlier tests carried out by the EPA revealed the presence of the carcinogenic chromium VI in surface water and in one well. Chromium VI is present in wood preservatives.
A local business, T&J Standish Sawmills, has been co-operating with the EPA in monitoring local watercourses for chromium VI and other chemicals.
Standish Sawmills has been the subject of numerous EPA investigations relating to breaches of its integrated pollution control licence going back to 1998.
A director of the company, Mr Tom Standish, is on record as saying the pollution had now ceased, and he attributed on-going EPA concern to a "vendetta" on the part of named locals.
According to the EPA, the breaches of the sawmills' licence included the release of a number of chemicals - including quantities of chromium VI and copper in excess of permitted limits - to surrounding surface water, the nearby Fuarawn river, and the contamination of a local well.
In recent weeks, consultants, acting for T&J Standish Ltd, notified the EPA that it had found high levels of chromium VI, as well as high levels of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in a number of wells belonging to locals.
Such chemicals are known carcogins and the EPA immediately advised Offaly County Council of the test findings.
Following consultation with the Midland Health Board, the council issued warning notices to those who sourced water from the wells.
Welcoming the latest batch of test results yesterday, Mr Parlon said the local community had been split by fears that the water had been contaminated.
Mr Parlon, who organised a public meeting between the EPA, the county council, the Midland Health Board and local farmers, said a lot of people were concerned about the conflicting test results.
He also said that a lot of people had offered support to the sawmills which was a significant local employer, providing more than 50 jobs.
He said people had initially felt the dangers may be a little exaggerated but had been seriously concerned to receive the warning notices. However, there was tremendous relief at the weekend when the EPA indicated that recent tests revealed the "water is clear".
The EPA results have been circulated to the owners of the wells concerned, along with a notice withdrawing the drinking ban by the county council.
A number of locals members of the Aghancon Residents Association, however, are still concerned.
A spokesman for the association said the position was that two out of four known sets of tests on local water had revealed the presence of known carcinogens, and locals "frankly can't understand how the EPA can not take more decisive action".