Over 7,000 people extremely at risk of being affected by contaminated water

If you are worried about your water, you need to report it.

According to The Irish Examiner, a microscopic parasite that can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal illness has been detected in the drinking water supplies in Ballyhooly and Mitchelstown in Cork. Earlier in the summer, there was a discovery of cryptosporidium in the water supply and subsequent tests were then carried out on the water by the Environmental Regulator. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that no barrier had been fitted to prevent cryptosporidium from entering the water supply in Ballyhooly and has called on Irish Water to install a barrier immediately to ensure the safety of the people in the town. The EPA has said that the supply was classified as being at a "very high risk" of being contaminated with the potentially lethal parasite while Mitchelstown is at a "moderate risk". Cryptosporidium, which is a small parasite found in faecal matter, can cause fever, stomach upset, weight loss and diarrhoea and the EPA warned the public in September that 161,000 people were at risk of illness from possible exposure to the parasite. They also said that there are currently 25 public schemes which supply drinking water to homes, schools, hospitals and businesses around the country that did not have an adequate enough treatment to kill off the bug if necessary. If you are worried about the quality of your water, you can make a complaint by following the steps issued on the EPA website. First, any issue regarding water quality by an Irish Water customer should be handled by Irish Water in the first instance and customers can get in contact with them by email, phone or post. Irish Water is legally obliged to notify the EPA of any failure of a drinking water standard or any cases where the supply of water constitutes a potential danger to human health. If you are not satisfied with the way that Irish Water has dealt with your claim, you can then contact the EPA quoting the complaint reference number assigned by Irish Water.