Tap Water
Is Irish tap water safe to drink?
The mains water supply in Ireland is fluoridated, as required by law.
Fluoride has been linked to a reduction in IQ levels, builds up in
the bone structure causing hip fractures, increases the chance of
bone cancers in male children, impairs the immune system, and can
disrupt enzymes in the body.
More...
Outside urban areas many homes and lodging establishments are
served by their own water supply - usually a well. The
quality of the water supply from these sources varies depending on
the location from excellent to marginal. Your best
option is to ask before consuming or bring your own!
The choice of bottled water is often poor in many lodging and
catering establishments - many for example only offer high-sodium
brands (sodium content in excess of 10mg/l).
Analysis of six brands of bottled mineral water on sale
in Ireland
|
|
Ballygowan |
Deep |
Evian |
Highland |
Tipperary |
Vittel |
Volvic |
|
|
|
|
Riverrock |
|
Spring |
|
|
|
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|
mg/l |
mg/l |
mg/l |
mg/l |
mg/l |
mg/l |
mg/l |
|
|
Calcium |
114 |
40 |
78 |
32 |
37 |
202 |
11.5 |
|
|
Magnesium |
16 |
30.5 |
24 |
8 |
23 |
43 |
8 |
|
|
Potassium |
3 |
2 |
ND |
0.5 |
17 |
4.9 |
6.2 |
|
|
Sodium |
15 |
24.7 |
5 |
4.5 |
25 |
4.7 |
11.6 |
|
|
Nitrate (NO3) |
9 |
2.8 |
3.8 |
2 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
6.3 |
|
|
Chloride |
28 |
24.3 |
ND |
5 |
ND |
ND |
13.5 |
|
|
pH at source |
ND |
ND |
7.2 |
7.8 |
7.7 |
ND |
7 |
|
|
Sulfates |
ND |
ND |
10 |
7 |
10 |
ND |
8.1 |
|
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|
Website |
Website |
Website |
Website |
Website |
Website |
Website |
|
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Source
|
IE-Newcastle West |
GB-Tullynacross |
FR-74500 Evian |
GB-Blackford |
IE-Borrisoleigh |
FR-88800
Vittel |
FR-63530
Volvic |
|
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Ownership |
C&C |
Coka-Cola |
Danone |
Highland |
Tipperary |
Nestle |
Danone |
|
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Spring |
Natural |
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Mineral |
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Water Co |
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ND = Not disclosed |
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Low Sodium
Link:
Water resource statistics
EPA
Publications
Source: Company website and bottle labels |
