Vol. 525 No. 3
143 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the target he has set in respect of water quality management and the elimination of water pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24856/00]
The EPA report, Ireland's Environment – a Millennium Report, published in April 2000, a copy of which is in the Oireachtas Library, identifies eutrophication of inland waters caused in most cases by excess inputs of phosphorus as perhaps Ireland's most serious environmental pollution problem. While sewage and industry are significant contributors to the overall phosphorus load to freshwaters, agriculture has been identified as the single biggest contributor to the eutrophication problem.
The targets in respect of water quality management and the elimination of water pollution are set out in the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977 (Water Quality Standards for Phosphorus) Regulations, 1998. These regulations set clear targets for reducing phosphorus levels in rivers and lakes by end 2007. The water framework directive recently adopted by the European Union requires member states to achieve good quality status in all waters within a 15 year timeframe generally.
Specific standards and other requirements for water quality are set in statutory instruments transposing EU directives for a range of water uses, notably, for example, in respect of bathing waters, surface waters for the abstraction of drinking water, waters supporting salmonid and cyprinid fish, and shellfish.
Question No. 144 taken with Question No. 114.
