Strange tap water!

FullblownRose

This story about excessive levels of Lead in a water supply, got me thinking. I've been unhappy with the taste and smell of my tap water for a while but I don't know how to have it tested. Has anyone had similar issues with theirs? Does anyone know if Irish Water can be contacted in relation to checking the water quality and safety?

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/high-lead-levels-drinking-water-forces-irish-water-220231908.html#LJBaQTi

moxin

Ha, good luck with that!

jimgoose

Contact Irish Water?? You'll have more luck contacting Buffalo Bill Cody.

FullblownRose

I had a feeling it wouldn't be that straightforward!

FullblownRose

sending them an email to ask what the procedure is for having it investigated. They have nothing helpful on their website. It's all about the billing aspect :O

abutler101

Ring your county council, they still do the testing.

The_Valeyard

Irish Water will probably charge you for the lead.

FullblownRose

abutler101 wrote: »

Ring your county council, they still do the testing.

Thanks

Mint Aero

Saw it on duncy stewerts eco warrior programme few yr ago. There's a place that does it, can't remember where as I said it was few yr ago. Check out the EPA's website or something...

kneemos

Most people are unhappy with the taste and smell of their tap water.

abutler101

kneemos wrote: »

Most people are unhappy with the taste and smell of their tap water.

How did you come to that conclusion?

KK4SAM

kneemos wrote: »

Most people are unhappy with the taste and smell of their tap water.

That's not true !

hfallada

Dublin city water tastes fairly nasty. But if you buy a filter it tastes fine. I think its because the water is soft and so heavily treated with chlorine,when UV is used more abroad.

Im surprised no one has mentioned that the taste is floride

FullblownRose

Well, mine was great up until about a year or so ago and it is truly unpalatable at this stage. If it is flouride then they must have increased the amount they put into it..?

And the smell vaguely reminds me of the smell of chlorine in swimming pools.

KK4SAM

KK4SAM wrote: »

That's not true !

'Tis around here, and a boil notice to prove it!

FullblownRose

FullblownRose wrote: »

Well, mine was great up until about a year or so ago and it is truly unpalatable at this stage. If it is flouride then they must have increased the amount they put into it..?

And the smell vaguely reminds me of the smell of chlorine in swimming pools.

That's because it is chlorine, don't know about the fluoride though.

kneemos

KK4SAM wrote: »

That's not true !

Beg to differ.

lazybones32

FullblownRose wrote: »

This story about excessive levels of Lead in a water supply, got me thinking. I've been unhappy with the taste and smell of my tap water for a while but I don't know how to have it tested. Has anyone had similar issues with theirs? Does anyone know if Irish Water can be contacted in relation to checking the water quality and safety?

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/high-lead-levels-drinking-water-forces-irish-water-220231908.html#LJBaQTi

Your County Council is nearly obliged to test a sample on your behalf but I think there are a few labs who will test yours for your for a nominal fee.

Be warned: you may struggle to drink tap water again...(had our done by CC 2 years ago)

As far as I know, lead is seldom used in distribution pipes and hasn't been used in domestic pipes since the 1950s or earlier, so I would imagine that lead is the least of your worries.

moxin

Deleted User wrote: »

As far as I know, lead is seldom used in distribution pipes and hasn't been used in domestic pipes since the 1950s or earlier, so I would imagine that lead is the least of your worries.

Lead has been used in Tralee, Kerry recently.

http://www.thejournal.ie/lead-levels-drinking-water-st-brendans-park-1766116-Nov2014/?utm_source=facebook_short

SpaceTime

Bad taste is usually chlorine.
They often seem to add more when they're working on pipes to minimise risk of contamination with soil bacteria.

policarp

What is water?

Is it H2O?

Is it a saline solution?

Is it a Flu ride?

Or is it Heavens Gift
to those who live in
Ireland?

FullblownRose

SpaceTime wrote: »

Bad taste is usually chlorine.
They often seem to add more when they're working on pipes to minimise risk of contamination with soil bacteria.

The water supply was interrupted a few times this year and the taste deteriorated after each interruption, so that fits.

Chlorine must be excessive if it's so strongly detected through taste and smell, I feel?

I'm not exaggerating- it's disgusting. You can still taste it in a cup of tea!

greasepalm

interesting as i thought i could smell chlorine in the water a few weeks ago,maybe i did cheers

GTDolanator

Dublin city labs where they test the water are down beside the pidgeon house in ringsend,look em up and give em a call not sure if they do public requests

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

There are lots of companies who check domestic water quality for those with wells.
http://www.iaslabs.ie/environmental-testing/drinking-water.html. This is just one. You can google for more options. It is not expensive.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

kneemos wrote: »

Most people are unhappy with the taste and smell of their tap water.

Where did you come by that statistic? Our water has been excellent for the past 20 years or so. We don't buy any bottled water anymore as the tap water is perfect. Likewise in many locations I know around the country.
You might want to change "most" to "some".

kneemos

Arabella Obnoxious Predator wrote: »

Where did you come by that statistic? Our water has been excellent for the past 20 years or so. We don't buy any bottled water anymore as the tap water is perfect. Likewise in many locations I know around the country.
You might want to change "most" to "some".

It's anecdotal of course,but I'll stick with most.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

kneemos wrote: »

It's anecdotal of course,but I'll stick with most.

So, incorrect in other words.

newmug

There's still lead pipes used in Meath.


We have our own well. There's a lot of iron in the water, so much so that if you wash a white shirt, it will come out a bit orangey looking. We got it tested once, they said that the heavy metal content was 20 times the safe amount and that it was not fit for human consumption!!!


Still drinking it 20 years on.

dazed+confused

hfallada wrote: »

Dublin city water tastes fairly nasty. But if you buy a filter it tastes fine. I think its because the water is soft and so heavily treated with chlorine,when UV is used more abroad.

Im surprised no one has mentioned that the taste is floride

UV cannot be used without chlorine.

Compounds of Fluoride are added at levels too small for the human palate to detect.

Lu Tze

FullblownRose wrote: »

This story about excessive levels of Lead in a water supply, got me thinking. I've been unhappy with the taste and smell of my tap water for a while but I don't know how to have it tested. Has anyone had similar issues with theirs? Does anyone know if Irish Water can be contacted in relation to checking the water quality and safety?

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/high-lead-levels-drinking-water-forces-irish-water-220231908.html#LJBaQTi

Lead was only mainly used in service pipes i.e. the small pipes from the water main to the house. It hasnt been installed in years, so its unlikely to be present if you have a house built in the last 20-30 years.

If you do have an older house, you could have a look at the stop cock outside and see if you can identify what material the pipe is. You could also look under the sink.

Either ay the majority of the service pipe is likely to be within the boundary of your property, so if it needs replacement that your responsibility, the portion from the water main to the property boundary is that of the water authority.

kneemos

Arabella Obnoxious Predator wrote: »

So, incorrect in other words.

It's as correct as saying "some."

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

kneemos wrote: »

It's as correct as saying "some."

Now you're just messin'. Most would include some, by it's very definition. But enough said, I have more to do than waste my Sunday because you can't admit to exaggeration based on no evidence other than anecdotes.

K.Flyer

There are still quite a large amount of older properties around Dublin, and I am sure the rest of Ireland, that still have lead pipework bringing water into homes from the water mains.
There is no obligation on any council or I.W. to change the pipes between the meter / stopcock to the house, that is down to the homeowners.

If you want to have your water tested and you live in Dublin City or the surrounding area you go to the HSE lab here.
Public Analyst’s Laboratory,
Sir Patrick Duns.
Lower Grand Canal Street,
Dublin 2.
Also incorporates an Official Food Microbiology Laboratory.
Tel: 01 6612022
Fax: 01 6628532

For other areas see this link..

http://www.publicanalystdublin.ie/en/StatutoryFoodControl/HSEFoodSafetyLaboratories/

SpaceTime

FullblownRose wrote: »

The water supply was interrupted a few times this year and the taste deteriorated after each interruption, so that fits.

Chlorine must be excessive if it's so strongly detected through taste and smell, I feel?

I'm not exaggerating- it's disgusting. You can still taste it in a cup of tea!

It can also be caused by just disturbing the pipes.

Depending on the age of the water installation in your local area, the pipes could be cast iron, concrete or various eras of plastics.

Cast iron is the usual culprit for causing water to go brown temporarily.
You're basically seeing rust (iron oxide) in the water, which is harmless but may taste weird / look bad and certainly isn't good for your dishwasher and washing machine.

Any water system will build up some degree of silt and grit in the pipes too, so when the pipes are moved around and flushed, you'll get that sit stirred up into the water too, so that can cause tastes and colour changes and it's why they have to be able to wash out the pipes for a while.

Excessive amounts of chlorine in the water though i.e. if it tastes and smells very bleachy, should really be complained about to Irish Water.

If there's a lot of chlorine being added to the water it will literally smell like swimming pool water i.e. that kind of vague bleach smell, especially just after you turn on the tap.

There's no real way of avoiding using chlorine in those water systems because there's no way that you can guarantee that all the pipes are absolutely perfect all the time, so there's always a risk of contaminated water being in the system somewhere.

There are downsides to it though, particularly the generation of byproducts that are caused when the chlorine in the water reacts with other chemicals in the water supply.
Despite all the hype around fluoridation, chlorination is probably a far more significant and real issue although the alternative - not chlorinating water would result in regular outbreaks of things like typhoid and other water-bourne illnesses so it's really a case of striking a balance.

However, badly maintained infrastructure being kept germ free with excessive chlorination isn't a great solution. I know the chlorine levels added to water in the US sometimes can be absolutely vile. When I was living over there the water in some cities was absolutely undrinkable. You'd have a self-bleaching toilet!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_chlorination

GM228

Lu Tze wrote: »

Lead was only mainly used in service pipes i.e. the small pipes from the water main to the house. It hasnt been installed in years, so its unlikely to be present if you have a house built in the last 20-30 years.

If you do have an older house, you could have a look at the stop cock outside and see if you can identify what material the pipe is. You could also look under the sink.

Either ay the majority of the service pipe is likely to be within the boundary of your property, so if it needs replacement that your responsibility, the portion from the water main to the property boundary is that of the water authority.

Was curious about the boundry-didn't Irish Water say they would replace/repair any broken/leaking pipes from the water meter into your property only once for free, does that mean if the meter is outside the boundry and a broken pipe is also outside the boundry but between the meter and house you would still have to pay for a second repair?

GM228

FullblownRose

SpaceTime wrote: »

It can also be caused by just disturbing the pipes.

Depending on the age of the water installation in your local area, the pipes could be cast iron, concrete or various eras of plastics.

Cast iron is the usual culprit for causing water to go brown temporarily.
You're basically seeing rust (iron oxide) in the water, which is harmless but may taste weird / look bad and certainly isn't good for your dishwasher and washing machine.

Any water system will build up some degree of silt and grit in the pipes too, so when the pipes are moved around and flushed, you'll get that sit stirred up into the water too, so that can cause tastes and colour changes and it's why they have to be able to wash out the pipes for a while.

Excessive amounts of chlorine in the water though i.e. if it tastes and smells very bleachy, should really be complained about to Irish Water.

If there's a lot of chlorine being added to the water it will literally smell like swimming pool water i.e. that kind of vague bleach smell, especially just after you turn on the tap.

There's no real way of avoiding using chlorine in those water systems because there's no way that you can guarantee that all the pipes are absolutely perfect all the time, so there's always a risk of contaminated water being in the system somewhere.

There are downsides to it though, particularly the generation of byproducts that are caused when the chlorine in the water reacts with other chemicals in the water supply.
Despite all the hype around fluoridation, chlorination is probably a far more significant and real issue although the alternative - not chlorinating water would result in regular outbreaks of things like typhoid and other water-bourne illnesses so it's really a case of striking a balance.

However, badly maintained infrastructure being kept germ free with excessive chlorination isn't a great solution. I know the chlorine levels added to water in the US sometimes can be absolutely vile. When I was living over there the water in some cities was absolutely undrinkable. You'd have a self-bleaching toilet!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_chlorination

Honestly, THIS is undrinkable! It's clear, though. I am used to a bit of cloudiness from air because I've seen that after the network has been disrupted.,and I wouldn't mind brown water for a short time after that, but this is actually getting worse over time...and I don't know much about bottled water and how it's harvested and treated so I'm not ready to switch to that either!

FullblownRose

Lu Tze wrote: »

Lead was only mainly used in service pipes i.e. the small pipes from the water main to the house. It hasnt been installed in years, so its unlikely to be present if you have a house built in the last 20-30 years.

If you do have an older house, you could have a look at the stop cock outside and see if you can identify what material the pipe is. You could also look under the sink.

Either ay the majority of the service pipe is likely to be within the boundary of your property, so if it needs replacement that your responsibility, the portion from the water main to the property boundary is that of the water authority.

True, but lots of housing estates built n the 60's, 70's are still here. My own house is old enough to have lead pipes. I wondered whether the pipes were lead long ago, but never got around to asking someone who knows how to check.
A minister defending the new water charges said ( on the radio, today) ''large areas'' of the country are still getting water through lead pipes. I listened mid conversation so I do not know who he was.

SpaceTime

FullblownRose wrote: »

Honestly, THIS is undrinkable! It's clear, though. I am used to a bit of cloudiness from air because I've seen that after the network has been disrupted.,and I wouldn't mind brown water for a short time after that, but this is actually getting worse over time...and I don't know much about bottled water and how it's harvested and treated so I'm not ready to switch to that either!

Could you describe the taste though?

It's quite possible that it's sediment from the pipes.

The most dangerous contaminants in water generally don't actually have a taste. You can't really detect lead for example without laboratory tests.

Chlorine or some combination of chlorine reacting with gunk that's been disturbed in the pipes might create a bad taste though.

If it's a metallic taste, it's more likely to be iron oxide than anything else from rusty pipes.

Assuming you're not metered, run your taps for a while to clear the pipes.

Lead is more likely to be an issue in pre 1950s homes in link pipes that the local authorities don't own are are unaware of.

In a lot of cases, the developer or builder would have laid pipes that sometimes interconnect houses and then ultimately connect to the public supply. Some of those are where lead's been found rather than the actual 'public system'.

One of the biggest problems in Ireland is that there was no clear demarkation point. I think household supplies should be the local authority / Irish Water's issue right up to the stop cock. That often wasn't the case in some local authority systems where the interconnecting pipes were owned by the householders.