Concerns over high manganese levels in Gibbstown water

A GIBBSTOWN company has raised serious concerns about the quality of the drinking water from the public supply after routine testing carried out on its behalf found very high levels of manganese.

Novelplast is a plastics recycling company that takes post-industrial plastic materials and recycles them into a sustainable product. The company has been operating for five years in the Gibbstown Gaeltacht and plant controller Jemma O'Connor explained that as part of their ISO requirements they have their water routinely tested every year.

The most recent set of results, from tests carried out by Oldcastle Laboratories in August, found that the level of manganese was 108mg/l (micrograms per litre) in the hot water tap and 143mg/l in the cold water tap. The legal limit for manganese is set at 50mg/l.

Manganese is a silver-grey metal that occurs naturally in soil, water and rocks. According to the HSE, studies show that high manganese in drinking water may have a harmful effect on the nervous system and brain development and it is advised that you should not drink water with manganese levels above 120 mg/l.

The levels found in the public supply in Gibbstown are over double the permitted levels and indeed the level detected in the cold tap is above the 120mg limit for consumption.

Novelplast reported the findings to Uisce Eireann who had tests carried out in September but the company has got no information on those results despite several attempts to follow-up with Uisce Eireann.

“We have always had ups and downs with our water here. A couple of years ago it was brown and you couldn't drink it and we were told they were doing maintenance works and it was residue from the pipes. It was visible in the water so we knew not to drink it. Other neighbours in the area also have issues, one regularly has brownish water. It has never been great.”

All water used by Novelplast in their processes is transported off site for treatment.

As part of the ISO requirements, the water supply is tested every year and this is how the high levels of manganese came to be detected.

“A couple of years ago there were high levels of zinc which was only for a short period and then stopped,” said Jemma.

“The manganese only became apparent in August when our hot and cold water was tested. As soon as we saw there were high levels and found out that it might be harmful over a long-term basis we told staff not to drink it and got in water coolers.”

They reported the issue to Uisce Eireann and they did send a company to test the water but they have got no information on the results.

Jemma said that they tried to spread the word locally but fear other households might not be aware of the issue with the drinking water.

They also found a slime or algae had formed in the header tank and don't know if this is connected of if it is separate issue.

Uisce Eireann had not responded to our query at time of going to press on Tuesday but yesterday (Wednesday) issued a statement which saying it had "no concerns" about manganese in the supply.

The statement read: "Protecting public health is a top priority for Uisce Éireann. Uisce Éireann does not comment on results of sampling that have been privately arranged.

"Last month (September 2024) Navan Mid-Meath Liscarton PWS was sampled twice for manganese, both of which were compliant. There are no concerns about manganese in this supply.

"Uisce Éireann’s drinking water standards, as per EU Drinking Water regulations, are strict and include wide safety margins. Where risks to water quality are identified through Uisce Éireann’s enhanced testing and monitoring programme, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is consulted, and Boil Water Notices or Do Not Consume Notices are issued to protect public health. In all instances immediate action is taken to address the cause of the issue to enable the lifting of the notice as quickly as it safe to do so, in agreement with the HSE.

If customers have any concerns relating to their water supply, we encourage them to contact us directly. The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on X @IWCare with any queries or concerns."

Novelplast has also since been contacted by Uisce Eireann and told the water is safe to drink but the company isstill awaiting a copy of the report to confirm the findings.

“We are still awaiting the copy of the water test report to confirm that the water is safe for human consumption. We intend on testing the water on a periodic basis and we’ll alert the local community should we become aware that the water quality becomes compromised again in the future,” said Jemma.