EPA says only just over half of rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters are in satisfactory condition
Farmers face targeted inspections by local authorities amid efforts to crack down on pollution of watercourses.
It comes as the EPA revealed last week that only just over half of rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters are in satisfactory condition with the overall ecological health of these surface waters declining further in recent years.
To address the situation, the EPA, in consultation with local authorities, relevant Government departments and others are set to develop a Local Authority National Agricultural Inspection Programme covering the period 2022 to 2025.
Local authority farm inspections will be prioritised and targeted using a risk-based approach utilising what the EPA said was ‘evidence-based catchment science’, including the EPA’s Pollution Impact Potential (PIP) maps.
In a statement to the Farming Independent, it also said farm inspections by local authorities will be targeted, both in areas where waterbodies are at risk of not achieving water quality objectives and in areas where waters are currently ‘high’ or ‘good’ status.
The inspection programme will be implemented on a phased basis. The first phase involves the collection of detailed farm inspection data for 2022 and is currently underway. The next phase will deliver guidance and selection tools for local authority farm inspections to be carried out in 2023.
Notably, the EPA said the results from the implementation of the National Agricultural Inspection Programme would be used to inform the review of the Nitrates Action Programme, which underpins the nitrates derogation.
Speaking at last week’s Food Vision 2030 conference, Laura Burke of the EPA said Ireland is not on track to meet its water quality commitments.
“We are trending in the wrong direction, water quality is declining and what we’re seeing in that regard to agriculture is that 63pc of waterbodies that are at risk or impacted, are impacted by agriculture,” she said.
(Source – Irish Independent – Indo Farming – Ciaran Moran – 18/10/2022)
Half Of Rivers, Lakes And Coastal Waters polluted As Quality Of Waterways Falls
EPA calls decline ‘alarming’ as farm waste, sewage, pesticides and chemicals affect water supplies.
Almost half the country’s rivers, lakes and coastal waters are polluted – and the problem is getting worse.
Farm waste, sewage, pesticides and chemicals are the main culprits, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study has found.
Many waterways can no longer properly support nature, or the fish, plants and animals that depend on them.
One fish kill was recorded on average every 11 days that the six-year study covers.
Others have high concentrations of nitrates and phosphates that pose a danger to human health when used as drinking water.
Almost all the country’s drinking water supplies come from rivers and lakes.
Along with pollution, the rivers, lakes and the habitats they support are being damaged by physical alterations to banks and inappropriate dredging, dams, weirs and culverts.
Estuaries and coastal waters have suffered a decline the EPA describes as “alarming” with agricultural run-off increasing and destroying the life in them.
In total, 46pc of all the country’s waters are in unsatisfactory condition, based on the standards set by the EPA and EU.
Under EU and national targets, all are meant to be satisfactory, with an ecological status of “good” or “high” by 2027.
Rivers are the most common water source in the country with 84,800km of streams, rivers and tributaries that reach almost every community and townland in the country.
Yet some counties, such as Westmeath, Louth and Tipperary, have no river waters of high ecological status.
Fifteen counties have more river waters of unsatisfactory ecological status than satisfactory.
The study is based on regular sampling at 3,192 testing points in river waters, 812 in lakes, 156 in estuaries, 98 in coastal waters, 514 in groundwater and 16 in canals.
Since the last study of similar scale, the number of water bodies in satisfactory condition has declined by 1pc in rivers, 3pc in lakes, 10pc in coastal waters, 16pc in estuaries and just under 1pc in groundwater.
Only the 16 canals have retained their status, with all but one, the Upper Shannon-Erne section, receiving a satisfactory rating.
“Our surface waters and groundwaters continue to be under pressure from different human activities,” said the EPA report.
“Nearly half are not as healthy as they should be and many are continuing to decline.
“This is particularly evident in our estuaries and coastal waters, which have experienced a marked decline in quality since the previous assessment.
“The evidence presented in this report clearly shows that the goal of restoring all waters to good status by 2027 will not be achieved.
“Our water quality is going in the wrong direction and any improvements we are seeing are being cancelled out by declines occurring elsewhere.”
A multitude of activities contribute to the situation. In the west and north-west, which has the greatest proportion of lakes, animal waste and chemical run-off from agriculture and forestry are a problem.
In large urban areas, where 49pc of wastewater is not satisfactorily treated, sewage is a concern, particularly in coastal waters.
Around the south-east and south, excessive nitrogen and phosphorous running off farms is a major challenge.
In industrial areas and former mining sites, a legacy of metals continues to have a negative impact.
In Donegal, a dedicated programme has had to be established to deal with the exceptionally high levels of chemicals from sheep dips.
Dr Eimear Cotter, EPA director of evidence and assessment, highlighted the drop in water quality in the 14,000km of coastal waters, bays, lagoons and estuaries around the coast.
“The scale of the decline in our estuaries and coastal waters is alarming,” said Dr Cotter.
“Areas such as Cork harbour, Wexford harbour and the Slaney, Suir and Nore estuaries have lost their good water quality status.
“This directly impacts the marine biodiversity and ecological value in these areas.”
(Source – Irish Independent – Environment – Caroline O Doherty – 14/10/2022)