Irish Water says it will take decades to bring all households in the country off boil notices and plants up to standards.
The utility's National Plan for Water Services – shows that almost one third of water treatment plants are 'at risk' of failure.
Irish Water published its investment plan this morning, which says it will be 25 years before the water system is at an acceptable level and ten years until lead piping is removed from the public mains.
Dozens of homes in the Skheenarinky – Burncourt area in Tipperary have been under a boil notice since 2001.
Work has started on a multi-million euro upgrade of the scheme but it is not due to be completed for a number of years.
Irish Water says that it wants to eliminate all boil water notices by the end of 2021 with head of Asset Management at the company, Jerry Grant, saying they're making progress.
The utility – which is headed up by Terryglass man John Tierney – says it will have to reduce investment in the network by €300 million between now and the end of next year due to a lack of funding.
However, Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin says the current rate of charges will be enough to carry out the improvements and he sees no need to increase them.
