Cause of Nenagh water contamination still unknown

THE Tipperary town of Nenagh faces a weekend without a full drinking water supply as efforts continue to identify the full extent of contamination.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) team of investigators is continuing its work on the water pipeline, while also measuring ground contamination. The first priority is to restore the supply as soon as possible, the EPA director, Mr Iain MacLean, said yesterday.

However, until the full extent of the contamination is identified, the supply cannot be restored for public health reasons, he said.

About 25 to 30 per cent of the town's water is affected, and for the past week residents have been relying on tanker deliveries by Nenagh Urban District Council. The EPA intends to publish a full report on the incident as soon as possible, but final results on tests to determine the culprit are not expected before next week.

The EPA intends to prosecute if it has sufficient evidence. Under the 1977 and 1990 Water Pollution Acts, the consequent claims from households and businesses which suffer losses could outweigh any fine, if a conviction is secured.

The US owned cosmetics company, Procter and Gamble, is working very closely with the EPA, but it has pointed out that it has "not yet been confirmed" that it was responsible. The company, which manufactures Oil of Ulay and other products, employs 300 at its plant in Gortlandroe, and is within 100 yards of the well which supplies part of Nenagh's water.

As part of an application for an integrated pollution control licence, it has supplied the EPA with a full list of all the raw materials used, and emissions from the plant.

The contamination is not "drastically toxic", Mr MacLean said, but it is regarded as unacceptable in a town water supply. The Mid Western Health Board has issued public warnings to the effect that the supply cannot be used until declared fit for human consumption. The EPA, the local authority, health board and town UDC will review the situation on Monday.

Nenagh gardai said yesterday they had not received any complaints about the situation, and people were coping as best they could. Ms Anne Healy, a nurse and mother of two living in the town, said it was affecting people very badly. "The UDC is delivering regularly, and will come with extra supply at a phone call. But you can't wash the dishes, and it is a great inconvenience and hardship to old people," she said.