Drinking water is obtained by consumers in a variety of ways including public supplies, private group water schemes, individual private wells and water in bottles or other containers.

Detailed information in relation to the quality of drinking water is available in the reports published annually by the EPA on the quality of drinking water in Ireland. The reports are based on the results of monitoring carried out by local sanitary authorities, by local health boards and by the EPA and indicate the extent to which drinking water supplies comply with the quality standards prescribed by the European Communities (Quality of Water Intended for Human Consumption) Regulations, 1988. The EPA report for 2001 is based on the results of 146,352 tests carried out in relation to 22,453 water samples taken from 940 public supplies and 1,536 private group schemes. It indicates a general level of compliance of 94.3% for all samples by reference to 14 key parameters. The EPA carries out audit monitoring of local sanitary authorities and exercises general supervision over the discharge by local authorities of their functions in relation to environmental protection. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland exercises supervision over bottled water (e.g. natural mineral water, spring water) and water used in food premises.

Persons who are concerned about the quality of the water can seek advice from the supplier, the local sanitary authority, the health board for the area, the EPA or from any appropriate consultant or adviser in the private sector. Information on accredited laboratories and other services available for sampling of water, and for analysis of water samples for various parameters, is available from local sanitary authorities, health boards and the EPA.

Analysis of water samples can be carried out by local sanitary authorities or local health boards which have appropriate in-house laboratory facilities or can be arranged by such an authority on behalf of a householder at an accredited laboratory. Water samples can also be submitted for analysis to the EPA's regional laboratories, the Dublin City Analyst's laboratory or the various private laboratories around the country.