Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 4

Written Answers. - Water Quality.

Andrew Boylan

Question:

14 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has satisfied himself with the adequacy of measures in place to monitor ground water quality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18566/00]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. D. Wallace)

A ground water quality monitoring programme is undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency, in collaboration with local authorities and with the co-operation of the Geological Survey of Ireland. The EPA millennium report confirms that there is no widespread contamination of particular aquifers and that most samples reflected unpolluted conditions. It indicates intermittent or localised pollution in an appreciable number of instances by the presence of coliforms or, in some cases, elevated levels of nitrates. Appropriate measures are being taken to address these instances of pollution.

Guidelines prepared jointly by the GSI, the EPA and my Department on the preparation of ground water protection schemes were issued to local authorities in May 1999. Schemes have been prepared by the local authorities, in consultation with the GSI, in relation to five counties and a further eight schemes are in preparation.

Comprehensive statutory provision for the protection of ground water is contained in the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts, 1977 and 1990, the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, and related legislation. Additional measures are put in place as required. I made the Protection of Groundwater Regulations, 1999 (S.I. No. 41 of 1999) in February 1999 in relation to discharges to aquifers by local authorities. I made further regulations this month to strengthen the statutory basis for improvement of drinking water supplies, particularly private group water schemes, many of which are sourced from ground water. Proposals are also being developed in my Department for additional measures to be taken for the protection of ground water against pollution by nitrates, including the designation of nitrate vulnerable zones in accordance with EU Directive 91/676/EC.

My Department's rural water programme comprises of a range of targeted initiatives to improve the quality and efficiency of rural water supply systems and includes a specific measure to monitor the quality of ground water and surface water sources nationally in order to determine the causes of pollution and to implement effective surface and ground water source protection measures.

Since 1997, my Department has been pursuing a comprehensive, integrated catchment-based strategy to tackle pollution of inland surface waters. My Department is now actively extending this strategy by promoting the establishment by local authorities, in the short to medium term, of projects to address all sources of pollution in all inland and coastal waters, including groundwaters. In December 1999 local authorities were advised that financial assistance at a rate of up to 85% would be available to support expenditure to develop such projects.