EPA says it could take Irish Water 60 years to replace lead piping
The Environmental Protection Agency says it'll take Irish Water over 60 years to replace lead piping if the current pace is continued.
Last year over ten thousand connections were replaced, but targets for the next five years only add up to about thirteen thousand.
According to the HSE, lead may harm the kidneys, cause high blood pressure and has effects on brain development in children.
The EPA has noted that drinking water quality in Ireland remains high across Irish Water's 900 supplies.
But Programme Manager Andy Fanning says it could be the year 2080 by the time all lead connectors are switched out.
"Irish Water was working to replace the lead connections from the street to your door, but unfortunately they've reduced their ambition with respect to that.
"EPA expects that if they continue at the rate they're proposing for the next few years that it would take over 60 years to replace all those lead connections."
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