Cobh: lead levels too high

Almost 100 homes in Cobh, Co Cork have been left without water following the detection of high levels of lead in the supply. Three housing estates in the town face having no water until next year following detection of traces of lead above the acceptable levels set out by the EU.

It is believed that approximately two kilometres of lead piping are the cause of the problem and Cobh Town Council believes that work to remedy the situation will not start until next year.

The mayor of Cobh, Cllr Finbarr O'Driscoll, has called on Cork County Council to spend its capital funding on fixing the problem in Cobh as a matter of urgency. Labour councillor John Mulvihill Jnr told the Sunday Tribune that the council estimates the work will start in the first quarter of next year and is currently investigating a temporary solution to the problem.

"Our big problem now is that the council has to seek funding to fix the problem with the pipes through the normal procedures. Emergency funding should be made available urgently," Mulvihill said.

"People in Cobh are very worried about high levels of cancer in the town, which are 34% higher than the national average. Statistics tell us that on average someone in Cobh is diagnosed with cancer every 11 days."

The homes affected are situated in three estates: Belmont Place, Aileen Terrace and Park Terrace. The piping was discovered after tests were carried out on the town's water supply subsequent to the EU lowering the acceptable level of lead in drinking water from 100 parts per million (ppm) to 25ppm.

Cork County Council and the HSE are advising all householders in the affected estates not to drink, boil or use any water in food preparation and have advised residents to dispose of all ice cubes and filtered water.