Public Health Risk Assessment of Drinking Water

Public health risk assessment

When there is an indication that drinking water is or has been contaminated, a public health risk assessment may be required. This should consider:

• What is the evidence of drinking water contamination?
• If none, what if anything needs to be done to rule this out?
• What is the evidence of public health effects?
• If none, what if anything needs to be done to rule this out?

Resources for risk assessment

Among the resources available for risk assessment are:

• A handbook on the Implementation of the Regulations for Water Service Authorities for Public Water Supplies
• A Handbook on the Implementation of the Regulations for Water Services Authorities for Private Water Supplies
• WHO Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality (4^th Edition).
• Institute of Geologists of Ireland guidelines for construction of boreholes
• EPA Advice Note 14 on Borehole Construction and Wellhead Protection which incorporates assessment of existing wells
• Material on contamination in private well water in Ireland
• Information from the EPA about Protecting private well water;  Testing and treating well water; Concerns and complaints; & Further guidance. Among the resources included is a short video presentation (English and Irish) on risks to your well; an infographic (English and Irish) on guidelines and information about protecting your well water; and an application to assess if your private well is at risk of contamination.

Publications

• Health risks associated with switching from a public to a private water supply
• Risk of illness from well water
• HSE/EPA Joint Position Paper - Trihalomethanes in Drinking Water
• HSE/EPA Joint Position Paper - Nitrates in Drinking Water
• Drinking Water Supplies, Cryptosporidiosis and Severely Immunocompromised Patients: Public Health Recommendations for Clinicians