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To: Irish Water

No othophosphate in our drinking water

Orthophospathe is being trialled in Limerick and Clare. It is being used to reduce ( not remove ) the amount of lead in our drinking water.

On health and environmental grounds, do not run Orthophosphate trials in Limerick and Clare.

Why is this important?

As Limerick City is on an estuary, it is expected that any problems caused by excess amounts of Orthophosphate entering the Shannon from households in the city will be mitigated by the tidal movements of the estuary. This is not good environmental practice and is simply fixing one problem by creating another problem. There are two solutions that can solve the problem of lead in water. One solution is to completely remove and replace all old lead piping, lead fixtures and lead fittings in the plumbing system of the house. The other solution which may also be less costly, is to add a water filter or filtration system that will remove metals like lead and other contaminants and ensure the drinking water supply is pure and safe to drink.

There are also health issues with the use of this chemical not just the fact there adding it to water already effected by fluoride. The phosphate in sodium phosphate can cause calcification of your organs, the University of Maryland Medical Centre notes. Phosphate sometimes causes your soft tissue to calcify as well. When your organs and soft tissue become calcified, your ability to utilize minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc becomes impaired. These minerals are vital to the proper function of your body. Being unable to properly utilize them will lead to further problems and complications.

Sodium phosphate has been associated with severe kidney damage, sometimes requiring dialysis, according to a 2009 article in PubMed Health. Kidney damage is associated with dehydration and constipation. Dizziness and decreased urination also can indicate kidney damage, but a biopsy offers more conclusive proof of kidney damage. Consuming it more frequently than once every seven days might elevate your risk of developing kidney damage, according to MedlinePlus.

Sometimes sodium phosphate causes severe allergic reactions characterized by hives or skin rashes that appear all over your body, as well as itching and breathing difficulties. Allergic reactions also can cause your chest and throat to feel tight. Blood sometimes appears in your stool. Your facial area will also swell when you experience an allergic reaction. During a severe allergic reaction, your arms and legs sometimes also swell. Confusion, arrhythmia and headaches are also symptoms associated with severe allergic reactions. Seizures and potential loss of consciousness are also typical symptoms of a severe allergic reaction.

And already common in our current supply

I have been sending letters, Emails etc. to this company for months regarding the Orthophosphate trials in Limerick and Clare.What we want is for them to send a spokes person to Limerick for a public consultation with the residents and citizens who will be effected by this.If they are a genuine company that have any regard for its customers and if this Phosphate is 100% safe then I don't see why they are refusing. We will welcome them and organise a venue

This orthophosphate is been used as an escuse not to repair our infrastructure which is on its last legs.Once that falls apart they will sell to the higest bidder and our water will be lost.Ask Berlin about that one or veolia

So please help us keep the pressure on we only have weeks left as its going in without our consent in the first quarter of 2016

Updates

2016-02-05 12:15:49 +0000

will be heading to Limerick and Clare to the Councils next week to ask for support.Please keep sharing this and asking friends to sign.And a massive thanks to everyone doing it at the moment

2016-01-28 14:11:34 +0000

100 signatures reached

2016-01-28 11:25:17 +0000

Need more signature please keep signing and sharing and make IW get in touch and talk to those effected.Remember if it goes into Clare and Limerick your next

2016-01-27 19:55:29 +0000

50 signatures reached

2016-01-27 16:58:29 +0000

25 signatures reached

2016-01-27 16:41:47 +0000

Please remember this is an escuse for them to avoid spending our money fixing our infrastructure.This will not fix the problem and could make it worse.IW fix our pipes or go away

2016-01-27 13:19:28 +0000

10 signatures reached