Activist and campaigner Tony Rochford hopes the government will finally wake up to the major problems the Irish water supply faces.
Tony has hopes of spreading information to the country regarding just how dangerous the drinking water from your tap may actually be.
Mr Rochford thinks that water we use and consume in our homes on a daily basis could in fact be toxic up to as much as 90% of Irish households being infected.
Mr Rochford has been in contact with internationally known campaigner Erin Brockovich who has highlighted his concerns.
The Liberal posed some questions to Mr Rochford to understand the true scope of danger to the public.
Regarding the toxicity of household water Mr Rochford pointed out the fact that according to the figures put out by ‘Irish Water’ themselves 380,000 customers are receiving water with elevated levels of Trihalomethanes THMs caused by chlorine reacting with the organic material in the drinking water. Citing research from Harvard University Mr Rochford states that this can cause carcinogens to form and can be particularly harmful to the unborn.
This toxic water can also lead to the development of other waterborne diseases such as meningitis, which the government does not screen for and contribute to the development of cancer. Mr Rochford cites the EU Disease Surveillance report of 2015 which confirms this.
Frighteningly, referring to the same document Mr Rochford points out that most pathogens are becoming immune to chlorine and all water treatment plants need to be using ultra violet light.
Mr Rochford has taken this information to all relevant authorities and stated that highest level in Oireachtas Committee PSOP with the top officials from Department of Environment and NSAI and the committee themselves agreeing that I had uncovered “a profoundly serious public health concern” that I now believe affects 90% of Irish homes who have dangerously designed plumbing systems in their homes. Two of the 5 faults that I found would be considered as being a high-risk factor for cancers and respiratory diseases.
However most disturbingly of all is that the fact that Oireachtas committee have asked the HSE to answer questions in relation to Mr Rochford’s findings about the soaring disease rates and the HSE have twice refused to answer these questions which are of the most vital public interest.
Mr Rochford believes the government are now hiding their heads in the sand in the fact of an unprecedented public health emergency.