E-COLI contamination, excessive fluoride and aluminium and insufficient testing dominate the Environment Protection Agency's Drinking Water quality report for 2000.

Detailed below is an area-by-area breakdown that highlights some of the problems.

BRAY: aluminium was not monitored.

CARLOW: Excessive nitrate levels in supplies in Ballinkillen, Nurney, Ballyloo, Croon/Newstown and Knock/Ballyglisheen should be investigated as a matter of urgency.

CAVAN: 19 public supplies had faecal e-coli, with the Virginia supply accounting for a huge number. Many group schemes had poor bacteriological quality containing high levels of colour, manganese and iror.

Excessive nitrates in Greaghrahan, Ardlougher and Beagh which the EPA says it must be investigated and remediated urgently.

CLARE: Significant number of breaches for fluouride levels in public supplies at Clooraclare, Ennistymon, Kilree, Killadysert, Lisdoonvarna, Miltown Malbay, Mullagh, Cratloe, Kilishen, Shannon-Sixmilebridge, Tulla, Quin, Carrigaholt and Kilmihil. The EPA says this was "inexcusable" and compliance is very low. Faecal e-coli contamination in 16 group water schemes with Dromod Bodyke, Greagans, Ballyvaughan and Kiltackay Mor worst effected. Excessive fluoride in the group schemes.

CLONMEL: Glenary supply had serious faecal e-coli contamination in July. Poulavanogue has five breaches for fluouride, three of which were excessive. Breaches for e-coli.

CORK (north): High faecal e-coli in Castletownroche, Buttevant, Kildorry, Killavulle, Mitchelstown and Watergrasshill public schemes. Excess nitrates in Glanworth which are unacceptable. Excessive nitrates in group schemes at Ballinapark, Ballinvoskig, Lismire, Downing and Kilcoran. Aluminium compliance poor with nitrates worsening in group schemes.

CORK (south): High faecal e-coli in Clashanamid and Dripsey public schemes. Excessive aluminium at Macroom and Youghal public supplies for all samples because of too high dosages. Excess nitrates in Lisnacru and Ballinagree. High e-coli in six schemes, especially Carrignadourna and Kilvoultra.

CORK (west): Isolated high e-coli in Castletownbvere and Kealkill. High nitrates in Castletownkinnagh public supply and Shanagh group scheme which must be investigated. Also big reduction in compliance for fluoride levels in region.

DONEGAL: A number of public supplies contained faecal e-coli which constituted a risk to public health and are a cause for concern. These are Frosses-Inver, Glencolmcille, Glenties-Ardara, Gortahork-Falcarragh, Kilcar, Lettercaugh, Letterkenny, Ardagh, Ballintra, Ballyshannon, Cranford, Creeslough, Dunkineely, Magherabeg/Veagh and Mountcharles. Excessive aluminium in 12 public supplies the worst being Frosses-Inver, Gortahork-Falcarragh, Lettermacaward, Lough Mourne and Ballyshannon Cranford. Too much fluoride at Glenties-Ardara, Gortahork-Falcarragh and Cresslough. Fifteen groups schemes biggest problem was faecal e-coli with worst at Cloghan where permanent "boil water" notice in place.

DUNDALK: Problem with addition of fluoride on a number of occasions.

DUN LAOGHAIRE-RATHDOWN: Significant odour and taste problems for the Roundwood supply and some non-faecal coliforms in Ballyedmonduff, Roundwood and Stillorgan.

ENNIS: Infrequent exceedances for fluoride.

GALWAY( county): Public supplies with faecal e-coli include Brierfield, Cleggan/Claggaduff, Clooncun, Glenamaddy, Kilkerrin/Moylough and Mid Galway Regional Scheme. Gross faecal e-coli contamination found in one-third of group water schemes.

KERRY: Isolated faecal contamination in public schemes including Ballinskelligs, Ballinvenoragh, Ballybunion/Galey, Cloghane, Glen and Mid-Kerry Region. In group schemes some 30pc were contaminated. High iron and manganese in Asdee South, Derrynane Hill, Guhard, Reenagowa No1, Rineen and Toor No1.

KILDARE: Contamination by faecal e-coli and nitrates a feature of public water schemes. Of major concern were Poulaphouca Regional and Leixlip Regional. Nitrates were breached at Kilberry and Kilmeade and the report says because of health implications for nitrates this cannot be condoned. Poor drinking water quality linked to e-coli in Ballindoolin, Ballyroe Leinster Lodge, Kilteel, Mooretown and Oldmill (Kill) group schemes.

KILKENNY: Over half samples from Kilkenny City (Troyswood) and Mooncoin too much aluminium. Too much fluoride at Radestown (the highest amount), Ballyragget, Castlecomer (old), Gowarn-Goresbridge Paulstown, Graignamanagh and Inistioge. Faecal e-coli in Piltown-Fidown and Kilkenny City. Over half of all group schemes had e-coli.

LAOIS: Faecal e-coli in Arles, Coolanagh, Errill, Killenard and Mountsalam. Coliforms in eight of 27 groups schemes with contamination bad at Ballacolla, Cullahill, Derrynaserra, Killeaney, Rahen, Shanbeg, Tinraheen which had poor drinking water.

LIMERICK (county): Iron and/or manganise excesses at Abbeyfeale, Adare, Ardagh, Glin, Kilfinnane, Kilmeedy, Limerick city environs, Loughill, Banogue, Bruff, Caherconlish, Cappamore, Carrigkerry, Galbally and Rathkeale. In group schemes high levels of faecal e-coli ain Ballincourty, Newbridge, Newton, Sugarhill and Templeglantine.

LONGFORD: EPA regrets no monitoring by council of group schemes. Longford Centre had 18 out of 31 samples with excess aluminium.

LOUTH: excess fluoride at Ardee public supply which also showed present of faecal coliforms as did Greenmount and Rathmore. E-coli found in eight out of 15 group schemes but 11 samples for nitrates were excessive particularly at Sheepgrange.

MAYO: Ballyhaunis public supply breaches for ammonia with excesses for fluoride at Achill Regional scheme.

Faecal e-coli in half of group schemes including Ballyclogher Balla ( Pollavaddy), Cashel-Charlestown, Currykirwan, Johnstown, Holywell, Keenagh, Keenaghmore, Kilkeeran, Glenamoy, Gurteen-Carrowkeel, Hollymount/Roundfort, Killour, Lahardane, Lavallyroe-Ballyhaunis, Listava/Hollymount, Mayo Abbey and Milford.

MEATH: Meath Hill and Kiltale groups scheme showed presence of faecal e-coli while high iron in Kilmessan, Kinnegad and Summerhill.

MONAGHAN: Rockcorry scheme had 48 faecal coliforms in just one sample and also have excessive aluminium. Stranooden group scheme had aluminium problem and Tydavnet too much fluoride. Coliforms in 9 of 14 group schemes.

OFFALY: Incidents of faecal e-coli in Durkin, Mountbolus and Rhode public. Tullamore had excess aluminium repeatedly. Nine out of 21 groups had faecal e-coli including Aghancon, Ballinagar, Ballybruder, Bracknagh and Durrow. Excess nitrate at Corndarragh scheme.

ROSCOMMON: Water quality is getting worse with downward trend for e-coli contamination. A shocking 34pc of group schemes had faecal e-coli. These were very high in Ardkennagh, Aughrim, Ballymacurley-Killultage, Carane-Ballintubber, Carane-Whitehall, Cloonegrasson-Laragh, Clooneyquinn, Cloonmore-Tarmonbarry, Corristoona, Creeve, Donamon-Carrigeen, Derrane, Coolteigue, Grange lower, Grange-Fourmilehouse, Ogulla, Peake Mantua, Rathcarren and Rathcroghan-Tulsk.

They also had gross excess aluminium in many cases. Over the year the Aughrim group scheme had drinking water which ranged from satisfactory, moderately contaminated, seriously contaminated and grossly contamined. Underlines urgency of constant monitoring and not just one a year, as is the case.

High coliforms in Ballyfarnon, Castlerea, Knockcroghery/Lecarrow, and North East Regional Water public supply. Iron and managenese breaches in Arigna scheme from history of mining.

SLIGO: quality of drinking water had got worse with e-coli found in results for two sources, Lough Gill (Cairns Hill and Foxes Den) and Kinsellagh. Standards for colour, iron and odour dropped dramatically.

SLIGO (county): North Sligo scheme tested positive for high faecal e-coli contamination. There were high levels of faecal e-coli contamination in seven group schemes including Ballintrillick, Ballinfad, Benbulben and Drum East.There is only 20pc compliance for coliforms.

TIPPERARY (north): High faecal e-coli found in Ballinaclugh, Ballingarry/Aglish, Littleton, Nenagh, Newport and Terryglass. Half of 68 group schemes were contaminated with health implications, especially bad were Ballycasey/Bourrus, Barnane, Bawn/Kilriffith/Kilmore, Castlelough, Cloneybrien, Curryquinn, Fantane, Frolic Carney, Garynamona Cormackstown, Glenareisk, Graigue/Pouldine, Kilbarron, Killeen, Lacka, Laha-Casteliney, Lisheenacloonta, Motya-Coolbawn, Newhill-Two mile Borris, Patrickswell-Carrigatogher, Scrageen-Newport, Shalee and Tonagha/Drish/Galboola.

TIPPERARY (south): A quarter of group schemes contaminated with high levels in Clonmore South and Skeheenarinky supplies.Excess aluminium in Killurney schemes.

WATERFORD (county): 15 schemes had faecal coliform contamination including Dunhill, Knockyelan, Lyrenearla and Tramore. The Ardmore and Lismore/Cappoguin/Ballyduff schemes and Ardhanoe group scheme had excessive nitrates but council is developing a plan to deal with this.

WESTMEATH: Faecal coliforms in Mullingar and Castlepollard schemes. Athlone had excessive aluminium but close to maximum level. Poor compliance throughout for alumium.

WEXFORD: Killinerin group scheme had faecal coliforms.

WICKLOW: Faecal e-coli contaminatin of Glenealy and Windgates/Templecarrig public supplies. High incidence of excess aluminium recorded for Arklow and Enniskerry where all 10samples were over the maximum permissible limit. Seven of the 12 group schemes had faecal e-coli and were unsatisfactory. Coliforms dominate small private supplies.

- Treacy Hogan Environment Correspondent