A couple from Kilkenny will next week have an opportunity to put their concerns about the public water supply in Kilkenny city and the surrounding area to a committee of the European Parliament.
Pat and Bernie Grogan, of Kilfera, Bennettsbridge Road, Kilkenny, are to address the European Parliament's Petitions Committee on the state of the water supply.
The submission to the committee was lodged on their behalf two years ago by the Green Party.
The Grogans and Cllr Mary White, of the Green Party, will present their findings to the committee in person. It is understood that the oral hearing has been allowed because of the "poor response" by the State to the claims made by the Grogan family.
"Evidence has been presented over the two-year waiting period detailing the quality of drinking water from the Troyswood plant in Kilkenny," Cllr White said.
"The Kilkenny City Water Supply Report, September 2001, states that there was a significant improvement in water quality throughout 1999 and 2000. However, a closer look at the number of tests for 1999 proves puzzling. The council records 36 tests for aluminium, but 63 per cent of these tests were in breach of the Maximum Admissible Concentration (MAC)."
According to Cllr White, 23 tests were undertaken in 2000, but 12 of these were in breach of the MAC levels. In 2001, four tests had been carried out, with a 50 per cent breach in MAC levels.
Cllr White continued: "Why is the council reducing the tests when previous testing has shown that in each year [1999 to 2001\] over 50 per cent of the tests have proved to be in excess of the maximum allowed?"
She was critical of what she claimed were excessive levels of aluminium in the water, adding: "The EPA report states that the compliance with the aluminium standard remains poor overall."
The Grogans have been monitoring the public water supply coming into their home and the results of these tests will also be presented to the committee.