September / Meán Fómhair 2012
After complaints from residents over the quality of the town’s water, Sinn Féin sent several samples from various locations in Mountmellick to be tested by independent, accredited laboratories.
The question that people are asking is:
WHAT IS IN THE WATER WE DRINK ?
Over 60 substances were tested for but those giving the greatest cause for concern were excessive hardness, discoloration, Lead
and Fluoride.
1 EXCESSIVE HARDNESS:
The hardness of drinking water is determined by the amount of calcium carbonate it contains. Excessively hard water contains over 350mg of calcium carbonate to 1 litre
of water.
Mountmellick’s water supply contains over 393mg - the last test showing 460mg.
In conversation with an official from the Water Department of Laois County Council a Sinn Féin member was told that the water hardness test for Mountmellick regularly shows an average between 350mg and 400 mg of calcium carbonate.
Consequences for residents: The cost of installing water softeners or replacing & cleaning boilers, shower-heads, electric kettles and heating systems to remove limescale. Buying extra soap and detergents. People who suffer from psoriasis have reported that the residue left on the skin by hard water & soap when washing inflames the condition.
Research has shown that exposure to hard water in the home may increase the risk of eczema in children of primary-school age.
2 DISCOLORATION: The water pictured here is a sample taken by a resident of Lord Edward Street who told us that water of this quality is a frequent occurrence. Numerous similar reports have been received from residents in other areas of the town.
The 2007 European Guidelines on water quality states that water
“ should be acceptable to consumers.”
This means “ consumers are not rejecting the water for drinking, cooking etc. because of its’ taste, smell or appearance.”

WOULD YOU DRINK, SHOWER OR LAUNDER WITH THIS WATER ?
Consequences for residents: The cost of buying bottled water or filters.
3 LEAD: The current Environmental Protection Agency regulation on standards of lead levels in drinking water is 25 milligrams per litre, next year the recommended level will be reduced by the EPA and the EU to 10 milligrams and eventually to 5.
A water sample from a Mountmellick house, with copper domestic pipes, was sent to an independent, accredited laboratory and showed the disturbing level of
31.4 milligrams of lead per litre.
Consequences for residents: The HSE in 2008 issued a statement saying:
“In the 1950’s lead was recognised to pose a hazard to health particularly to the developing brain. Children aged less than 6 years and the unborn child are more vulnerable to adverse effects from exposure to lead.”
The European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Health & Environmental Risks
(SCHER) in 2011 adopted the opinions from a report which stated:
“ Breast and formula-fed infants are exposed to lead from breast milk or infant formula consumption as well as to lead accumulated during prenatal exposure.”
“ In view of the available data, SCHER concludes that even at levels below 10 milligrams of lead, adverse effects on children's intelligence development can be observed.”
4 FLUORIDE: Fluoride is artificially added to the public water supply in the
Republic of Ireland despite the fact that it has been rejected in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Scotland, Iceland, and Italy.
In The Fluoridation Forum Report commissioned by the Government in 2002 the Irish Doctors’ Environmental Association expressed its opposition to the continuation of the fluoridation of drinking water supplies.
Consequences for residents: Fluoride added to drinking water together with that found in toothpaste and foodstuffs containing fluoridated water may exceed the recommended World Health Organization & EU guidelines.
Effects of excess fluoride may include dental fluorosis - brown staining or mottling of the teeth and hypothyroidism.
International dental experts now warn against giving fluoridated water to infants and advise that it should not be used to make up baby formula.
Following test results and research undertaken by Mountmellick Sinn Féin,
in response to the representations of residents, our findings raise serious concerns over the quality of the public water supply and its possible effects on the health of the people of our town. We believe that this warrants further investigation and possible corrective actions by relevant statutory bodies.
If you have any concerns over Mountmellick’s water supply please contact:
Adam Haughton 0861094417 - Jane Lloyd 0894456224 - Stephen Lynch 0879769595
St Vincent’s Hospital Mountmellick
For decades St Vincent’s Hospital has provided high quality care and comfort to the elderly and infirm in our community. In this era of austerity and cut backs we have witnessed ward closures, reductions in bed numbers, staffing moratoriums and threats
to the long term viability & survival of St Vincent’s Hospital.
Sinn Féin Mountmellick are campaigning to secure the future of our hospital and have three key demands:
Re-open beds in St. Joseph’s Ward.
Lifting the staffing moratorium.
Securing an adequate budget for St. Vincent’s to meet the needs of patients,
to comply with all HIQA standards and secure it’s future.
Councillor Stephen Lynch has raised these issues at meetings of the Town Council.
Brian Stanley TD submitted two questions to the Minister for Health, James Reilly,
in relation to St. Vincent’s Hospital in July 2012:
“ What are the number of patients and the current level of funding in the budget for St. Vincent’s Hospital, Mountmellick, Co. Laois ? ”
Answer: There are currently 99 continuing care residents and 6 respite clients.
St. Vincent’s offer 26 families a respite service. The current budget is 9.4 million Euro.
The patient capacity at the hospital is 130 yet only 105 beds are in use.
With an ageing population Sinn Féin Mountmellick feel that in future there will be an increased demand for beds. St. Joseph’s ward was closed under the Fianna Fáil / Green Government and the present Fine Gael / Labour Government have failed to re-open it.
“What plans does the Minister and the HSE have to re-open St. Joseph’s ward ?”
Answer: All HSE Services are required to work within the allotted funding allocation and the staffing moratorium. Services are provided on the availability of resources at Mountmellick and at present there are no plans to re-open beds in St. Joseph’s Ward.
It was the Fianna Fáil / Green Government that introduced the moratorium and it is the current Fine Gael / Labour Government that have continued to stop the recruitment of new and replacement staff, preventing St. Vincent’s Hospital from fulfilling its potential.
Brian Stanley TD, Spokesperson on Environment, Community
and Local Government, holds a regular clinic on the last Saturday of every month at 3.15pm sharp at the Town Hall, Mountmellick for anyone to bring issues to his attention confidentially.
His full time Constituency Office is at 5 Church St., Portlaoise.
Phone: 05786 62851 Email: brian.stanley@oir.ie
Local campaigns - Zebra crossing at Davitt Road
Brian Stanley TD organised a meeting on site between himself, homeowner
Kevin Phelan, Adam Haughton of Mountmellick Sinn Féin and a Laois County Council Engineer regarding the controversial location of a proposed zebra crossing on Davitt Road.
Following this meeting the siting of the zebra crossing has been changed to the satisfaction of all concerned.
Dumping in Lower Forest:
Mountmellick Sinn Féin views with alarm the widespread, ongoing problem of illegal dumping of household and industrial waste in this area. As well as being unsightly it is a fire hazard and a pollution threat to the River Barrow.
Cllr Stephen Lynch and chairperson of Mountmellick
Sinn Féin, Adam Haughton highlighted this issue in the local press and called for stringent enforcement of the litter regulations by the relevant authorities in Lower Forest.
Thank You!
Sinn Féin Mountmellick would like express their gratitude to the residents of the town who have co-operated with our on-going, doorstep survey.
The issues that have been identified as important to the people are of value in the formulation of future campaigns to benefit us all.
Continued campaigning and the expansion of Sinn Féin reaffirms that there is a growing section of the population who are demanding and want to work for freedom, real democracy and social justice throughout Ireland.
If you would like to
be involved in our campaigns or join Sinn Féin please contact:
Adam Haughton 0861094417
or
Stephen Lynch 0879769595
UPDATE October / Deireadh Fómhair
Following our Newsletter concerning the town’s public water supply, a delegation from
Mountmellick Sinn Féin led by Brian Stanley TD met with Senior Executives from Laois County Council Water Services. The issues addressed were:
1 EXCESSIVE HARDNESS:
Sinn Féin suggested that Mountmellick’s hard water supply problem could be treated as it enters the town with an electronic water conditioner. LCC undertook to investigate the possibility of Mountmellick becoming a pilot project using this technology. If implemented this would eliminate the need for householders to buy water softeners, replace electrical appliances and save costs to residents.
Sinn Féin’s research shows that salt based water softeners have a detrimental effect on the efficiency of septic tanks.
There are large areas of the town that use the public water supply and have not yet been connected to the mains sewerage system. This technology would benefit all users of the water supply by removing existing limescale and its’ build up in household pipes.
2 DISCOLOURATION:
Sinn Féin showed a sample of the discoloured water that residents frequently experience. LCC engineers stated that it is a result of iron & manganese in the supply system.
They have agreed to flush out the mains soon as a short term solution and to inform residents prior to doing so.
If you notice discolouration please contact: Laois County Council Water Supply Services 0578664120
3 LEAD: Sinn Féin provided LCC with the results of a resident’s water test showing the disturbing level
of 31.4 milligrams of lead per litre which poses a health
hazard, particularly to the developing brain of the unborn
and children under 6 years.
LCC accepted that there are some areas which have lead branch lines from the mains to the stop cock and it is their responsibility to replace those pipes.
Pipes leading from the stop cock to the house are the responsibility of the house owner.
Sinn Féin has been asked to assist in identifying areas in the town which may have lead pipes.
We urge residents who live in older areas of the town who have concerns or information regarding the location of lead pipes to contact Laois County Council or Sinn Féin members on the numbers listed below.
4 FLOURIDE:
LCC gave a commitment at the meeting to publish levels of Fluoride added to the water supply on their website.
Laois County Council’s website is: www.laois.ie
If you have information regarding the location of lead pipes or are concerned about the quality of your drinking water please contact:
Laois County Council Water Services 0578664120
Sinn Féin members:
Adam Haughton 0861094417
Jane Lloyd 0894456224
Cllr Stephen Lynch 0879769595
Brian Stanley TD holds a regular clinic on the last Saturday of every month at 3.15pm sharp at the
Town Hall, Mountmellick for anyone looking for advice &
to bring issues to his attention confidentially.
Sinn Féin Serving the Community
Great blog!
ReplyDeleteInteresting and important information about our water supply.
It's good to see someone actually listening to people's concerns and trying to do something about the issues.
Well done Sinn Féin.