Almost 1,000 people reported to Irish Water that the water from their household taps had made them unwell over the last two years, reports The Mirror.
The highest number of complaints out of the total 973 came from Cork City, where 105 individuals believed they became sick after consuming the water.
Irish Water said that each of the reported cases had been examined, but none resulted in confirmation of illness linked to the drinking water, reports The Mirror.
The utility stated that Ireland’s water supply network is of very high quality, with over 99% of the nation’s drinking water meeting all standards.
Figures obtained through Freedom of Information reveal that in 2023, there were 472 such complaints.
That number rose slightly in 2024, when 501 people reported suspected illness related to their water supply, reports The Mirror.
Cork City was a standout area for such reports, with 62 in the past year and 43 in 2023.
The city has faced ongoing issues with water quality and concerns over the colour of tap water, reports The Mirror.
The next largest volume of complaints came from Dublin City, with 88 residents reporting illness after drinking water from the tap.
Other notable figures include 61 complaints in Cork County, 58 in Co Kildare, and 54 in Co Clare.
By contrast, some areas had very few reports — just five in Co Monaghan, four in Co Leitrim, and three in Co Laois, reports The Mirror.
The Irish Water data also highlighted some monthly spikes in complaints from specific regions.
In August 2024, for instance, 23 complaints came from Co Clare, while in May 2023, 20 complaints came from Co Kildare, reports The Mirror.
Irish Water clarified that the figures reflect reports received and not confirmed cases of illness.
They said every complaint citing illness is treated with urgency and promptly investigated, reports The Mirror.
A spokesperson stated: “There was no verified illness due to drinking water quality related to any of the complaints received.”
They added that a thorough water quality monitoring system is in place, and any breach of drinking water regulations is reported to the HSE, reports The Mirror.
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