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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 5

Written Answers. - Lake Water Eutrophication.

Mary Harney

Question:

52 Miss Harney asked the Minister for the Environment the steps, if any, he proposes to initiate in an effort to reduce the level of eutrophication in Irish lake waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21121/96]

Responsibility for lake water quality and for the implementation of appropriate measures to deal with pollution is a matter primarily for local authorities. The Environmental Protection Agency is also involved, especially where activities licensable by the agency may be implicated. Extensive statutory powers are available under the Water Pollution Acts, 1977 and 1990 and the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 to support these bodies in their roles.

The recent Environmental Protection Agency reportWater Quality in Ireland 1991-1994 indicates that the extent of algal development recorded in 18 per cent of lakes for which data are available for the period concerned suggests a strong to very high level of eutrophication. In many instances, the principal sources of nutrients affecting these lakes are believed to be non-point discharges of agricultural origin. Single point sources, such as discharges from sewage treatment plants and industry, are also partly responsible.
Farmers can significantly reduce nutrient losses from their holdings by adopting the recommendations on the management of farm wastes and the use of chemical fertilisers contained in the Code of Good Agricultural Practice which the Minister for the Environment jointly launched in July with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Local authorities have been requested to actively promote the code among farmers.
Local authorities are now in a position to impose statutory controls in respect of nutrients, where warranted for the purposes of restoring or protecting water quality, as a result of an amendment made earlier this year to the Water Pollution (Amendment) Act, 1990. The provision allows authorities to require farmers to prepare nutrient management plans with the aim of relating nutrient applications to crop requirements, taking account of water quality protection considerations.
There is concern that present recommended application rates for phosphorus fertilisers may be excessive, having regard to the crop response situation and increased losses of phosphorus to waters leading to eutrophication. At the request of the Minister, these recommendations are being reviewed by Teagasc and the Environmental Protection Agency.
New intensive agricultural activities in the pig and poultry sectors coming within the scope of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, are subject to integrated pollution control licensing since 3 September 1996. The agency may not grant a licence for these activities unless it is satisfied,inter alia, that waste arising will not cause significant environmental pollution.
My Department, in conjunction with local authorities, is continuing to implement a major programme of capital investment entailing estimated expenditure of £1.3 billion by 2005, on upgrading sewage treatment facilities so as to meet the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. Four lakes, Loughs Derg, Leane, Oughter and Ree have been identified as sensitive areas in accordance with the provisions of the directive. As a consequence, phosphorus reduction facilities will be provided by 31 December 1998 for sewage discharges from towns with population equivalents greater than 10,000 in the catchments concerned — Athlone, Nenagh, Tullamore, Killarney, Longford and Cavan. In addition, the Minister is prepared to go beyond the requirements of the directive and approve the installation of nutrient reduction facilities in the case of smaller sewerage schemes which affect the sensitive areas concerned, or contribute to the eutrophication of other lakes.
Local authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency are in a position to impose appropriate controls on industry to the extent that industrial activities may contribute to eutrophication, through the exercise of the statutory powers available to them.
To provide better co-ordination for the above actions, and to intensify efforts at protecting the vulnerable water quality of lakes, my Department is finalising a lake catchment management strategy. This will aim to encourage an integrated approach to catchment management, based on the cooperation of all economic and other interests involved.
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