EPA DRINKING WATER ADVICE NOTE

Advice Note No. 16:

Guidance on the Enforcement of
the European Union
(Radioactive Substances in Drinking Water)
Regulations 2016 – S.I. 160 of 2016
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Monitoring, Analysing and Reporting on the
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for Environment
protecting and improving the environment as a valuable asset • Monitoring air quality and implementing the EU Clean Air for
for the people of Ireland. We are committed to protecting people Europe (CAFÉ) Directive.
and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation and • Independent reporting to inform decision making by national
pollution. and local government (e.g. periodic reporting on the State of
Ireland’s Environment and Indicator Reports).
The work of the EPA can be divided into
three main areas: Regulating Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Preparing Ireland’s greenhouse gas inventories and projections.
Regulation: We implement effective regulation and • Implementing the Emissions Trading Directive, for over 100 of
environmental compliance systems to deliver good environmental the largest producers of carbon dioxide in Ireland.
outcomes and target those who don’t comply.
Environmental Research and Development
Knowledge: We provide high quality, targeted and timely
• Funding environmental research to identify pressures, inform
environmental data, information and assessment to inform
policy and provide solutions in the areas of climate, water and
decision making at all levels.
sustainability.
Advocacy: We work with others to advocate for a clean,
productive and well protected environment and for sustainable Strategic Environmental Assessment
environmental behaviour. • Assessing the impact of proposed plans and programmes on the
Irish environment (e.g. major development plans).
Our Responsibilities
Radiological Protection
Licensing • Monitoring radiation levels, assessing exposure of people in
We regulate the following activities so that they do not Ireland to ionising radiation.
endanger human health or harm the environment: • Assisting in developing national plans for emergencies arising
• waste facilities (e.g. landfills, incinerators, waste transfer from nuclear accidents.
stations); • Monitoring developments abroad relating to nuclear
• large scale industrial activities (e.g. pharmaceutical, cement installations and radiological safety.
manufacturing, power plants); • Providing, or overseeing the provision of, specialist radiation
• intensive agriculture (e.g. pigs, poultry); protection services.
• the contained use and controlled release of Genetically Modified
Organisms (GMOs); Guidance, Accessible Information and Education
• sources of ionising radiation (e.g. x-ray and radiotherapy • Providing advice and guidance to industry and the public on
equipment, industrial sources); environmental and radiological protection topics.
• large petrol storage facilities; • Providing timely and easily accessible environmental
information to encourage public participation in environmental
• waste water discharges; decision-making (e.g. My Local Environment, Radon Maps).
• dumping at sea activities. • Advising Government on matters relating to radiological safety
and emergency response.
National Environmental Enforcement • Developing a National Hazardous Waste Management Plan to
• Conducting an annual programme of audits and inspections of prevent and manage hazardous waste.
EPA licensed facilities.
• Overseeing local authorities’ environmental protection Awareness Raising and Behavioural Change
responsibilities. • Generating greater environmental awareness and influencing
• Supervising the supply of drinking water by public water positive behavioural change by supporting businesses,
suppliers. communities and householders to become more resource
• Working with local authorities and other agencies to tackle efficient.
environmental crime by coordinating a national enforcement • Promoting radon testing in homes and workplaces and
network, targeting offenders and overseeing remediation. encouraging remediation where necessary.
• Enforcing Regulations such as Waste Electrical and Electronic
Equipment (WEEE), Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Management and Structure of the EPA
and substances that deplete the ozone layer. The EPA is managed by a full time Board, consisting of a Director
• Prosecuting those who flout environmental law and damage the General and five Directors. The work is carried out across five
environment. Offices:
• Office of Environmental Sustainability
Water Management
• Office of Environmental Enforcement
• Monitoring and reporting on the quality of rivers, lakes,
transitional and coastal waters of Ireland and groundwaters; • Office of Evidence and Assessment
measuring water levels and river flows. • Office of Radiological Protection
• National coordination and oversight of the Water Framework • Office of Communications and Corporate Services
Directive. The EPA is assisted by an Advisory Committee of twelve members
• Monitoring and reporting on Bathing Water Quality. who meet regularly to discuss issues of concern and provide
advice to the Board.
 EPA DRINKING WATER ADVICE NOTE
Advice Note No. 16:
Guidance on the Enforcement of
the European Union
(Radioactive Substances in Drinking Water)
Regulations 2016 –
S.I. 160 of 2016
Version 1
Issued: 10 December 2016
 Advice Note No. 16 | Version 1: Issued 10/12/2016 | Guidance on the Enforcement of the European Union 1
(Radioactive Substances in Drinking Water) Regulations 2016 S.I. 160 of 2016

1. INTRODUCTION
This guidance is prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with the European
Union (Radioactive Substances in Drinking Water) Regulations 2016 (S.I 160 of 2016). The regulations
provide for the monitoring of water intended for human consumption to assess compliance with
parametric values and in the event of an exceedance of the parametric values the undertaking of
remedial action to improve the quality of water for the protection of human health from a radiation
protection point of view. These regulations transpose the European Council Directive 2013/51/
EURATOM of 22 October 2013.

The Regulations provide for the issuing of guidance by the EPA on the implementation of these Regulations
as follows:

▼▼ Regulation 5(5) provides that the EPA may issue guidelines on the manner, frequency and method
by which parameters in Part 1 of the Schedule shall be monitored and on the procedures to be
adopted for assessing whether water for human consumption poses a risk to human health from a
radiation point of view.

▼▼ Regulation 6(4) provides that the EPA may issue guidelines to assist Irish Water or the local authority
in relation to the protection of human health.

▼▼ Regulation 7(5) provides that the EPA may issue guidance on the nature and timing of remedial,
enforcement or other relevant action and Irish Water and local authorities shall take such guidelines
fully into account when fulfilling their obligations.

▼▼ Regulation 9(3) provides that the EPA may issue guidelines in relation to exempted supplies which
shall be binding.

The guidance contained in this document shall be considered as the guidelines issued under Regulations
5(5), 6(4) and 7(5). Irish Water and the local authorities should also have regard to the EPA Drinking Water
Regulations Handbook.
2 EPA · Drinking Water ADVICE NOTE

2. MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT

Regulation 5 deals with Monitoring and Assessment of water supplies.

A national surveillance monitoring programme will be conducted (2017-2022) by the EPA to determine
whether the monitoring of water supplies is required at the frequencies outlined in Part 2 of the
Schedule. It is the responsibility of Irish Water and local authorities to provide appropriate samples, as
directed by the EPA. See Section on National Surveillance Monitoring Programme for Radioactivity in
Drinking Water for further details.

Alternatively, Irish Water or the local authority may arrange for sampling and analysis of the relevant
parameters using an alternative laboratory. However, such sampling will not be considered part of the
national surveillance monitoring programme and therefore the frequency must be at that set in Table A of
Part 2 of the Schedule of the Regulations. See Section on Sampling and Analysis by Irish Water/Local
Authority for further details.

2.1 NATIONAL SURVEILLANCE MONITORING PROGRAMME FOR

RADIOACTIVITY IN DRINKING WATER
In order to determine the water supplies likely to exceed the parametric values for Indicative Dose and
Radon a risk based approach to monitoring will be adopted, taking into consideration:

▼▼ The population served

▼▼ The volume supplied (m3/day)

▼▼ The type of water supply i.e. surface water or ground water supply

Using this risk based approach, a national surveillance monitoring programme of all regulated water
supplies with a volume supplied of greater than 100 m3 per day shall be carried out over a six year period
(2017 – 2022).

Based on the EPA’s 2015 drinking water supply data there are 1,247 drinking water supply zones that are
covered by S.I. 160 of 2016. These supplies comprise 771 public water supplies, 121 private supplies and
355 private group water schemes1. A summary of these supplies are outlined in Table 1.

TABLE 1: Number and type of water supplies to be monitored (based on 2015 supply data).

Volume of Supplies to be Surface Ground Spring Mixed Supplies to be

monitored (m3/day) Water Water Water monitored

Volume > 10,000 29 0 1 0 30

1,000 < Volume ≤ 10,000 133 40 20 28 221

100 < Volume ≤ 1,000 180 186 68 34 468

10 ≤ Volume ≤ 100 74 378 70 6 528

Total 416 604 159 68 1,247

1 The water supplies exempt from the S.I. are public group water schemes and supplies with an average volume of
less than 10 m3 per day or serving fewer than 50 people.
 Advice Note No. 16 | Version 1: Issued 10/12/2016 | Guidance on the Enforcement of the European Union 3
(Radioactive Substances in Drinking Water) Regulations 2016 S.I. 160 of 2016

The proposed schedule for the national surveillance monitoring programme for the period 2017 to 2022 is
outlined in Table 2.

TABLE 2: Proposed schedule for the National Surveillance Monitoring Programme (2017-2022)

Year Supplies to be monitored (m3/day) Estimated

Number
of Supplies

2017 Volume > 1,000 251

2018 100 < Volume ≤ 1,000 Surface Water and Mixed Supplies 214

2019 100 < Volume < 1,000 Ground Water Supplies 186

2020 100 < Volume < 1,000 Spring Water Supplies and
218
10 ≤ Volume ≤ 100 Surface Water, Spring Water and Mixed Supplies

2021
10 ≤ Volume ≤ 100 Ground Water Supplies 378
2022

The sampling and analysis should be undertaken in line with the methodology described in Appendix 1.

In the event that the EPA laboratory identifies a water supply with a Indicative Dose (ID) > 0.1 mSv/year or
a radon in water activity concentration > 500 Bq/l the water supplier (Irish Water or the local authority) and
the Drinking Water Team of the EPA will be notified of the exceedance immediately. Where a failure of a
parameter in Part 1 of the schedule has been detected it may be necessary for the local authority or Irish
Water to increase monitoring for that parameter in the affected water supply.

2.2 SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS BY IRISH WATER/LOCAL AUTHORITY

If Irish Water or a Local Authority opts to perform its own analyses, all drinking water supplies shall be
monitored for Indicative Dose using the methodology described in Appendix 1. In addition, monitoring of
radon concentrations shall be undertaken for all groundwater and spring water supplies and compared to
a parametric value of 500 Bq/l.

Monitoring of drinking water supplies for tritium or artificially occurring radionuclides in Irish water
supplies is not required at this time as there are currently no significant sources of tritium or artificial
radioactivity in the catchments of Irish water supplies. Radon in water is not likely to be an issue in surface
water supplies as radon gas is easily diffused into outdoor air. Therefore, the monitoring of surface water
supplies for radon is not required at this time.

Where one or more parametric value is exceeded in monitored supplies, or supplies where treatment
has been installed to ensure compliance, the monitoring frequencies set out in Table A of Part 2 of the
Schedule shall apply for the parameter that is exceeded.

All exceedances of the parametric values listed in Part 1 of the schedule to the Regulations shall be notified
as described below. Where a failure of a parameter in Part 1 of the schedule has been detected it may be
necessary for the local authority or Irish Water to increase monitoring for that parameter in the affected
water supply.

Where Irish Water and local authorities are not relying on the national surveillance monitoring programme
they should have arrangements with the laboratory they are using for immediate notification of any result
that does not comply with a standard.
4 EPA · Drinking Water ADVICE NOTE

3. ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS IN THE EVENT OF AN

EXCEEDANCE

Regulation 5(6) provides powers to the EPA to issue a direction to Irish Water or a local authority as
it considers necessary to ensure Irish Water or a local authority are performing their monitoring and
assessment functions in accordance with the regulations.

Regulation 5(8) provides for an offence if Irish Water or a local authority fail to comply with a direction.

Regulation 5(9) provides that Regulation 18 of the EU Drinking Water Regulations 2014 shall apply to these
regulations with any necessary modifications. This provides for the power to apply to the High Court.

The EPA recommends that Irish Water or a local authority have written procedures for dealing with
exceedances of the parametric values in Part 1 of the schedule to the Regulations. These procedures should
cover the protection of human health, investigations of exceedances and remedial action.

3.1 PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH

Regulation 6 deals with circumstances where there may be a potential danger to human health due to the
failure to meet a standard as specified in Part 1 of the schedule to the Regulations.

Regulation 6 requires Irish Water or a local authority to:

▼▼ firstly, consult and agree with the Health Service Executive whether there is a potential danger to
human health from a radiation protection point of view;

▼▼ restrict or prohibit use of water or take other action to protect consumers, if such a potential
danger to human health exists;

▼▼ ensure consumers are informed of the above actions; and

▼▼ ensure the EPA is promptly notified.

In considering the action to be taken, Irish Water or a local authority must have regard, in consultation and
agreement with the HSE, to the risk to human health that would be caused by the interruption of supply
or restriction of use.

Irish Water and local authorities should have documented written procedures for the issue of the
advice to consumers including pre-prepared leaflets for issue to consumers should they be required.
Leaflets should be very clear, use simple language and may need to be provided in languages other than
English. EPA provides advice for radon in drinking water at http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/radiation/
radonindrinkingwaterbrochure.html .

Where a supervisory authority (either EPA or a local authority), subject to the advice of the HSE, is of the
opinion that an exceedance of a parametric value in Part 1 of the Schedule, in water intended for human
consumption, constitutes, or may constitute, a risk to human health from a radiation protection point
of view, the supervisory authority shall issue such direction to the relevant water supplier as it considers
necessary to ensure that appropriate measures are taken for the purposes of preventing, limiting,
eliminating or abating such risk, and the water supplier shall comply with such a direction.
 Advice Note No. 16 | Version 1: Issued 10/12/2016 | Guidance on the Enforcement of the European Union 5
(Radioactive Substances in Drinking Water) Regulations 2016 S.I. 160 of 2016

The EPA’s role, as outlined in Regulation 6, is to ensure where there is a risk to human health, that where
necessary it directs Irish Water (in consultation and agreement with the HSE) to take the appropriate action
to prevent, limit, abate or eliminate the risk to human health.

3.2 ASSESSMENT OF FAILURES, INVESTIGATIONS AND REMEDIAL ACTION

Regulation 7 deals with the assessment of any failure to meet the parametric values specified in Part 1 of
the Schedule, subsequent investigations and remedial actions.

Irish Water is required by Regulation 7(1)(a) to ensure that any failure to meet the parametric values
specified in Part 1 of the schedule in its water supply is immediately assessed to determine whether the
exceedance poses a risk to human health which requires action.

A local authority is required by regulation 7(1)(b) to ensure that any failure to meet the parametric values
specified in Part 1 of the schedule in a water supply for which it is a supervisory authority is immediately
assessed to determine whether the exceedance poses a risk to human health which requires action.

Irish Water and local authorities must investigate the cause of any failure to meet the parametric values in
Part 1 of the Schedule. Having identified the cause or suspected cause of the failure Irish Water or a local
authority must determine the specific actions that are to be taken to prevent, limit, eliminate or abate the
cause of the failure.

In some cases it may not be possible to take actions to address the cause of the failure within the short to
medium term or it may not be possible at all. In such cases, replacement of the source may be necessary.
However, in all cases every effort must be made to ensure compliance with the parametric values.

Irish Water and local authorities should develop and implement written procedures to assess exceedances
and ensure relevant personnel and stakeholders are aware of these procedures. These procedures should
include, as a minimum, the contact details of HSE personnel, the detail of additional information that
should be communicated to the HSE and the detail of agreed actions to be taken in the event of a failure
to meet the parametric values.

Irish Water and local authorities should familiarise themselves with the document Management of initial
notification of a drinking water issue of potential danger to human health published in 20162,
recognises the key role that the HSE has in assessing and advising Irish Water, local authorities and the
EPA on potential risks to human health. The primary purpose of the document is to ensure increased
consistency of approach from and between the HSE staff of different professional backgrounds who are
involved with drinking water safety throughout Ireland.

Where a water supplier discovers a failure to meet the values specified in Part 1 of the schedule in its water
supply, that person shall notify the relevant supervisory authority for that supply of the failure and of the
results of its investigations. Each water supplier shall maintain a record of any incidence of failure to meet
the parametric values. Irish Water must notify the EPA no later than 11:00am on the next working day
of a failure to meet the parametric values, using the EPA’s online notification system at http://web.epa.
ie/odwn/login.aspx. Irish Water must consult with the HSE to establish the level of risk to human health
and agreed with the HSE any actions required prior to notifying the EPA. Where the EPA considers the
information in the notification as insufficient, further information may be requested.

2 http://www.lenus.ie/hse/bitstream/10147/618917/2/
HSE+drinking+water+inital+notification+management_July+2016.pdf
6 EPA · Drinking Water ADVICE NOTE

A water supplier commits an offence if that person fails to notify the relevant supervisory authority of a
failure of the parametric values specified in Part 1 of the Schedule [Regulation 7(3)].

Where monitoring shows that the quality of water intended for human consumption does not meet the
parametric values specified in Part 1 of the Schedule and poses a risk to human health from a radiation
protection point of view, the supervisory authority shall ensure that the necessary remedial action is taken
by the water supplier in order to comply with requirements for the protection of human health from a
radiation protection point of view.

Where remedial action is taken in relation to a water supply, the water supplier shall ensure that consumers
are informed of such action.

3.3 INTERVENTION BY SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY

Regulation 8(1) provides powers to a supervisory authority (either EPA or a local authority) to issue such
direction to a water supplier as it considers necessary, having exercised its powers under the Regulations
and considered any information furnished to it or otherwise coming into its possession in consequence of
that exercise, with a view to achieving satisfactory compliance of water supplied for human consumption
from a radiation point of view.

3.3.1 EXEMPTED SUPPLIES

Each relevant local authority shall take measures to notify the population served by an exempted supply
of the fact that these Regulations do not apply to such a supply and action that can be taken to protect
human health from a radiation point of view. Where it is apparent to a local authority that a potential
danger to human health arises from the quality of an exempted supply from a radiation protection
point of view, a local authority shall ensure that consumers of that supply are given appropriate advice
promptly. A local authority commits an offence if it fails to notify a population. The EPA Advice Note No.
12: Exempted Drinking Water Supplies shall be considered as the EPA guidance under Regulation 9(3)
(available at http://www.epa.ie/pubs/advice/drinkingwater/advicenoteno12.html).

3.3.2 DIRECTIONS

Regulation 10(1) provides powers to a supervisory authority (either EPA or a local authority) to give such
directions as it considers appropriate for the purposes of its functions under the Regulations and a person
commits an offence if that person fails to comply with such a direction.

3.3.3 INJUNCTIVE RELIEF

Regulation 11 provides for application to the High Court by a supervisory authority. Where the Court is
satisfied that a person has failed to comply with a direction, or a requirement of, the Court may, by order,
direct the person to comply with the direction or requirements and make such other provision, including
costs, as the Court considers appropriate.
 Advice Note No. 16 | Version 1: Issued 10/12/2016 | Guidance on the Enforcement of the European Union 7
(Radioactive Substances in Drinking Water) Regulations 2016 S.I. 160 of 2016

3.4 PROSECUTIONS AND PENALTIES

Regulation 15 provides that a prosecution for an offence under these Regulations may be taken by the
EPA, Irish Water or relevant local authority. A person guilty of an offence under Regulation 5(8), 6(5), 6(6),
7(3), 7(8), 9(4), 10(2) or 12(3) is liable on summary conviction to a Class A fine or imprisonment for a term
not exceeding 3 months or both, or on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €500,000, or
imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or both.

3.5 REPORTING
The EPA’s annual drinking water report will contain data and information on the compliance levels of
radioactivity parameters based on monitoring undertaken from 2017.
8 EPA · Drinking Water ADVICE NOTE

APPENDIX 1: SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY

The sample should be taken at the appropriate location as having regard to the following:

▼▼ Where a water supply zone is served by a single water treatment plant the sample should be taken
as the water leaves the water treatment plant.

▼▼ Where a single water treatment plant supplies water to multiple water supply zones the sample
should be taken as the water leaves the water treatment plant. A single sample will be sufficient to
cover all water supply zones and it is not necessary to take one sample for each water supply zone.

▼▼ Where multiple sources supply water to a water supply zone the sample should be taken as follows:

❙❙ If the water supplied to consumers is mixed and treated prior to supply and the ratio of mixing
of the sources is fixed, the sample should be taken at the final water leaving the water treatment
plant.

❙❙ If the water supplied to consumers is mixed prior to supply and the ratio of mixing of the sources is
variable (i.e. different boreholes at different times) a sample should be taken at each of the sources.

❙❙ If the water is supplied to consumers before mixing (e.g. consumers supplied prior to a reservoir or
different boreholes serving different parts of the water supply zone) a sample should be taken at
each of the sources.

The methodology applied for determining Indicative Dose is a two stage process:

1. Initial screening for gross alpha and beta activity to determine whether the activity concentrations are
below levels at which no further action is required; and

2. If these screening levels are exceeded, investigation of the concentrations of individual radionuclides.

3. This is summarised in Figure 1. The recommended screening level for gross alpha and gross beta
activity are 0.1 Bq/l and 1.0 Bq/l respectively.

If the radioactivity concentrations of supplies are below these screening values, then the water source
is considered to be in compliance, i.e. that the radiation dose arising from one year’s consumption
of drinking water does not exceed 0.1 mSv. Such drinking water is considered acceptable for human
consumption from a radiological perspective and any action to reduce radioactivity is deemed unnecessary.
 Advice Note No. 16 | Version 1: Issued 10/12/2016 | Guidance on the Enforcement of the European Union 9
(Radioactive Substances in Drinking Water) Regulations 2016 S.I. 160 of 2016

INDICATIVE DOSE MEASUREMENTS

FIGURE 1. Flow chart of Indicative Dose Procedure

Determine gross alpha

and gross beta activity

Gross alpha ≤ 0.1 Bq/l Gross alpha > 0.1 Bq/l

and or
Gross beta ≤ 1 Bq/l Gross beta > 1 Bq/l

Mean gross alpha

Repeat gross alpha beta
≤ 0.1 Bq/l
analysis on two
and
additional samples from
Mean gross beta
the same supply
≤ 1 Bq/l

Mean gross alpha

> 0.1 Bq/l
or
Mean gross beta
> 1 Bq/l

Measure concentrations of naturally

occurring radionuclides:
U-238, U-234, Ra-226, Ra-228, Pb-210 and Po-210

Determine individual radionuclide concentrations

and compare with activity per radionuclide
equivalent to 0.1 mSv/year

Indicative Dose Parametric exceedance.

≤ 0.1 mSv/year Indicative Dose
Notify water supplier/EPA.
No further action > 0.1 mSv/year
Consult with HSE
required
10 EPA · Drinking Water ADVICE NOTE

Where a screening level is exceeded on an individual sample, then further analysis is required. Two
additional samples from the same supply will be analysed for gross alpha and gross beta activity. If the
mean gross alpha activity or mean gross beta activity from these three samples are below the respective
screening levels for gross alpha and gross beta activity then no further action is required. However, if
either of the respective screening levels for gross alpha or gross beta activity are exceeded then additional
analyses to identify the radionuclide(s) contributing to the elevated gross alpha or gross beta activity
are required. As there are currently no sources of artificial radioactivity in catchments areas, the activity
concentrations of the following naturally occurring radionuclides should be determined: uranium-238,
uranium-234, radium-226, radium-228, lead-210 and polonium-210.

The results for the individual radionuclides should then be compared to the Derived Concentration for
radioactivity in water set out in Table 3. The Derived Concentration represents the activity concentration
that represents a radiation dose of 0.1 mSv based on an assumed annual intake of 730 litres of the water
supply that has exceeded the parametric value(s). If the individual radionuclides detected are less than
their corresponding Derived Concentration then it can be assumed that the Indicative Dose is less than
the parametric value of 0.1 mSv and no further investigation is required. Where they are above 0.1mSv
the water supplier (Irish Water or the local authority) and the EPA will be notified of the exceedance
immediately. The exceedance will be investigated by the EPA, in accordance with EPA procedures.

TABLE 3. Derived Concentrations for radioactivity in water intended for human

consumption (EC, 2013)

Nuclide Derived
Concentration
(Bq/l)

Uranium-238 3.0

Uranium-234 2.8

Radium-226 0.5

Radium-228 0.2

Lead-210 0.2

Polonium-210 0.1

RADON MEASUREMENTS

Monitoring of radon concentrations shall be undertaken for all groundwater and spring water supplies and
compared to a parametric value of 500 Bq/l.

The parametric value for radon in European Council Directive 2013/51/EURATOM of 22 October 2013 is
100 Bq/l but it states that: “Member States may set a level for radon which is judged inappropriate
to be exceeded and below which optimisation of protection should be continued, without
compromising water supply on a national or regional scale”.

In accordance with the statement above, the Regulations have adopted a parametric value of 500 Bq/l.
The parametric value of 500 Bq/l is deemed suitable to optimise the protection of the public from radon in
water without compromising water supply on a national or regional scale.
AN GHNÍOMHAIREACHT UM CHAOMHNÚ Monatóireacht, Anailís agus Tuairisciú ar an
COMHSHAOIL gComhshaol
Tá an Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil (GCC) freagrach • Monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar cháilíocht an aeir agus Treoir an
AE maidir le hAer Glan don Eoraip (CAFÉ) a chur chun feidhme.
as an gcomhshaol a chaomhnú agus a fheabhsú mar shócmhainn
luachmhar do mhuintir na hÉireann. Táimid tiomanta do dhaoine • Tuairisciú neamhspleách le cabhrú le cinnteoireacht an rialtais
agus don chomhshaol a chosaint ó éifeachtaí díobhálacha na náisiúnta agus na n-údarás áitiúil (m.sh. tuairisciú tréimhsiúil ar
staid Chomhshaol na hÉireann agus Tuarascálacha ar Tháscairí).
radaíochta agus an truaillithe.
Rialú Astaíochtaí na nGás Ceaptha Teasa in Éirinn
Is féidir obair na Gníomhaireachta a
• Fardail agus réamh-mheastacháin na hÉireann maidir le gáis
roinnt ina trí phríomhréimse: cheaptha teasa a ullmhú.
Rialú: Déanaimid córais éifeachtacha rialaithe agus comhlíonta • An Treoir maidir le Trádáil Astaíochtaí a chur chun feidhme i
comhshaoil a chur i bhfeidhm chun torthaí maithe comhshaoil a gcomhair breis agus 100 de na táirgeoirí dé-ocsaíde carbóin is
mó in Éirinn
sholáthar agus chun díriú orthu siúd nach gcloíonn leis na córais
sin. Taighde agus Forbairt Comhshaoil
Eolas: Soláthraímid sonraí, faisnéis agus measúnú comhshaoil atá • Taighde comhshaoil a chistiú chun brúnna a shainaithint, bonn
ar ardchaighdeán, spriocdhírithe agus tráthúil chun bonn eolais a eolais a chur faoi bheartais, agus réitigh a sholáthar i réimsí na
chur faoin gcinnteoireacht ar gach leibhéal. haeráide, an uisce agus na hinbhuanaitheachta.

Tacaíocht: Bímid ag saothrú i gcomhar le grúpaí eile chun tacú Measúnacht Straitéiseach Timpeallachta
le comhshaol atá glan, táirgiúil agus cosanta go maith, agus le • Measúnacht a dhéanamh ar thionchar pleananna agus clár
hiompar a chuirfidh le comhshaol inbhuanaithe. beartaithe ar an gcomhshaol in Éirinn (m.sh. mórphleananna
forbartha).
Ár bhFreagrachtaí
Cosaint Raideolaíoch
Ceadúnú • Monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar leibhéil radaíochta, measúnacht
• Déanaimid na gníomhaíochtaí seo a leanas a rialú ionas a dhéanamh ar nochtadh mhuintir na hÉireann don radaíocht
nach ndéanann siad dochar do shláinte an phobail ná don ianúcháin.
chomhshaol: • Cabhrú le pleananna náisiúnta a fhorbairt le haghaidh
• saoráidí dramhaíola (m.sh. láithreáin líonta talún, loisceoirí, éigeandálaí ag eascairt as taismí núicléacha.
stáisiúin aistrithe dramhaíola); • Monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar fhorbairtí thar lear a bhaineann le
• gníomhaíochtaí tionsclaíocha ar scála mór (m.sh. déantúsaíocht saoráidí núicléacha agus leis an tsábháilteacht raideolaíochta.
cógaisíochta, déantúsaíocht stroighne, stáisiúin chumhachta); • Sainseirbhísí cosanta ar an radaíocht a sholáthar, nó maoirsiú a
• an diantalmhaíocht (m.sh. muca, éanlaith); dhéanamh ar sholáthar na seirbhísí sin.
• úsáid shrianta agus scaoileadh rialaithe Orgánach
Géinmhodhnaithe (OGM); Treoir, Faisnéis Inrochtana agus Oideachas
• foinsí radaíochta ianúcháin (m.sh. trealamh x-gha agus • Comhairle agus treoir a chur ar fáil d’earnáil na tionsclaíochta
radaiteiripe, foinsí tionsclaíocha); agus don phobal maidir le hábhair a bhaineann le caomhnú an
chomhshaoil agus leis an gcosaint raideolaíoch.
• áiseanna móra stórála peitril;
• Faisnéis thráthúil ar an gcomhshaol ar a bhfuil fáil éasca a
• scardadh dramhuisce;
chur ar fáil chun rannpháirtíocht an phobail a spreagadh sa
• gníomhaíochtaí dumpála ar farraige. chinnteoireacht i ndáil leis an gcomhshaol (m.sh. Timpeall an Tí,
léarscáileanna radóin).
Forfheidhmiú Náisiúnta i leith Cúrsaí Comhshaoil • Comhairle a chur ar fáil don Rialtas maidir le hábhair a
• Clár náisiúnta iniúchtaí agus cigireachtaí a dhéanamh gach bhaineann leis an tsábháilteacht raideolaíoch agus le cúrsaí
bliain ar shaoráidí a bhfuil ceadúnas ón nGníomhaireacht acu. práinnfhreagartha.
• Maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar fhreagrachtaí cosanta comhshaoil na • Plean Náisiúnta Bainistíochta Dramhaíola Guaisí a fhorbairt
n-údarás áitiúil. chun dramhaíl ghuaiseach a chosc agus a bhainistiú.
• Caighdeán an uisce óil, arna sholáthar ag soláthraithe uisce
phoiblí, a mhaoirsiú. Múscailt Feasachta agus Athrú Iompraíochta
• Obair le húdaráis áitiúla agus le gníomhaireachtaí eile chun dul • Feasacht chomhshaoil níos fearr a ghiniúint agus dul i bhfeidhm
i ngleic le coireanna comhshaoil trí chomhordú a dhéanamh ar ar athrú iompraíochta dearfach trí thacú le gnóthais, le pobail
líonra forfheidhmiúcháin náisiúnta, trí dhíriú ar chiontóirí, agus agus le teaghlaigh a bheith níos éifeachtúla ar acmhainní.
trí mhaoirsiú a dhéanamh ar leasúchán. • Tástáil le haghaidh radóin a chur chun cinn i dtithe agus in
• Cur i bhfeidhm rialachán ar nós na Rialachán um ionaid oibre, agus gníomhartha leasúcháin a spreagadh nuair is
Dhramhthrealamh Leictreach agus Leictreonach (DTLL), um gá.
Shrian ar Shubstaintí Guaiseacha agus na Rialachán um rialú ar
shubstaintí a ídíonn an ciseal ózóin. Bainistíocht agus struchtúr na Gníomhaireachta um
• An dlí a chur orthu siúd a bhriseann dlí an chomhshaoil agus a Chaomhnú Comhshaoil
dhéanann dochar don chomhshaol. Tá an ghníomhaíocht á bainistiú ag Bord lánaimseartha, ar a
bhfuil Ard-Stiúrthóir agus cúigear Stiúrthóirí. Déantar an obair ar
Bainistíocht Uisce fud cúig cinn d’Oifigí:
• Monatóireacht agus tuairisciú a dhéanamh ar cháilíocht
• An Oifig um Inmharthanacht Comhshaoil
aibhneacha, lochanna, uiscí idirchriosacha agus cósta na
hÉireann, agus screamhuiscí; leibhéil uisce agus sruthanna • An Oifig Forfheidhmithe i leith cúrsaí Comhshaoil
aibhneacha a thomhas. • An Oifig um Fianaise is Measúnú
• Comhordú náisiúnta agus maoirsiú a dhéanamh ar an • An Oifig um Cosaint Raideolaíoch
gCreat-Treoir Uisce. • An Oifig Cumarsáide agus Seirbhísí Corparáideacha
• Monatóireacht agus tuairisciú a dhéanamh ar Cháilíocht an Uisce
Tá Coiste Comhairleach ag an nGníomhaireacht le cabhrú léi. Tá
Snámha.
dáréag comhaltaí air agus tagann siad le chéile go rialta le plé a
dhéanamh ar ábhair imní agus le comhairle a chur ar an mBord.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

An Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil

PO Box 3000,

Johnstown Castle,

Co. Wexford, Ireland

T +353 53 916 0600

F +353 53 916 0699

E [email protected]

W www.epa.ie

LoCall 1890 33 55 99

© Environmental Protection Agency 2014