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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 3

Written Answers. - Water Quality.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

151 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps he will take arising from the recent warning from the European Commission that pollution control measures introduced in the past three years to counter increasing water pollution in rivers and lakes here are inadequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24756/00]

Ivan Yates

Question:

336 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government whether eutrophication levels in our water are improving; and the proposals he has to have more effective programmes to reduce nitrates in water, through his Department, local authorities or other State agencies. [25020/00]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

372 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans to comply with EU water quality standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25175/00]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 151, 336 and 372 together.

Statutory responsibility for the monitoring, management and protection of water quality is assigned primarily to local authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency. The Environmental Protection Agency report, Ireland's Environment – A Millennium Report, identifies eutrophication, or over-enrichment, as the main water quality problem in Ireland. The report indicates that eutrophication of inland surface waters is widespread and that the most recent review indicated a continuing deterioration. Eutrophication is caused mainly by excess inputs of phosphorus from various sources and affects one third of the river system. For these reasons, the EPA considers that eutrophication of inland waters is perhaps Ireland's most serious environmental pollution problem. The EPA report is available in the Oireachtas Library.

Since 1997, my Department has been pursuing a comprehensive, integrated strategy to tackle all sources of eutrophication. Major catchment-based projects for the establishment of water quality monitoring and management systems are well under way, or nearing completion, in relation to Lough Derg, Lough Ree and Lough Leane and the Boyne, Liffey and Suir rivers. This strategy is already beginning to show evidence of some improvements in water quality. The strategy is underpinned by the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977 (Water Quality Standards for Phosphorus) Regulations, 1998, which I made in July last year. The regulations set clear targets for reducing phosphorus levels in rivers and lakes by end 2007.

The strategy is being supported by my own Department's major investment programme in sewage infrastructure facilities throughout the country. The National Development Plan, 2000-2006, provides for capital expenditure of some £3 billion the major portion of which will be devoted to wastewater infrastructure. The investment programme lays particular emphasis on the provision of phosphorus reduction facilities where a need is indicated in this regard. Discharges to waters from industrial sources are subject to licensing controls operated by local authorities and the EPA.

While sewage and industry are significant contributors to the overall phosphorus load to freshwaters, agriculture is considered to be by far the largest contributor accounting for 73% of total inputs. Phosphorus losses from agriculture arise from inadequate waste management at farmyard level and from leaching and run-off from land, particularly following the land spreading of slurries or the use of chemical fertilisers containing phosphorus. In 1999 and 2000, by-laws were made by certain local authorities under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts to protect waters against pollution by agriculture. Further such by-laws are under consideration by several other authorities. The making of such by-laws was facilitated by regulations made in 1998 by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to extend and strengthen the powers of local authorities in this regard. My colleague, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, has substantial initiatives under way to tackle phosphorus inputs from agriculture, including the rural environment protection scheme and the proposed new farm waste management scheme.
A voluntary agreement has been concluded with the Irish Detergents and Allied Products Association, IDAPA, which provides for an incremental move to zero-phosphate domestic laundry detergents by IDAPA members. The agreement sets targets of 55% by end June 2000, 90% by end 2001 and 95% by end 2002.
My Department is promoting the establishment by local authorities of river basin management projects to address water management in all inland and coastal waters, including groundwaters, and all sources of water pollution. These projects will facilitate implementation of the recently adopted EU water framework directive which requires the achievement of good water status, as defined in the directive, generally within a 15 year timeframe, in a co-ordinated programme of measures by all relevant authorities in relation to the management of water quality and quantity. Financial support at a rate of up to 85% will be provided by my Department in relation to expenditure incurred by local authorities in relation to such projects.
The most recent comprehensive report by the EPA in relation to water quality, 1995-97, indicates that nitrates in rivers are generally well within the limits, 11 mg/l nitrogen, set by EU legislation in relation to raw waters for treatment and supply as drinking water and that there was no widespread pollution of particular aquifers. The report identified localised instances of elevated levels of nitrates in certain groundwaters. The EPA has estimated that the loads of nitrogen entering water from agricultural activities far outweigh those from other sources, including waste water, and comprise some 82% of the total.
Additional protection against pollution of waters by nitrates will be provided by action programmes to be developed in relation to those areas where the levels of nitrates in groundwaters are approaching or exceeding the limits set by European legislation. As I indicated in a public statement in July 2000, the affected waters are located in counties Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Louth and Waterford. Work is under way on the identification of the catchments related to these waters and, on their identification, I will formally designate the appropriate areas as "nitrate vulnerable zones", NVZs. Designation of an area as an NVZ will place higher emphasis on the measures already in place in practice. The voluntary code of good agricultural practice to protect waters from pollution by nitrates, the blue book issued in 1996, will become mandatory in an NVZ. A primary consideration will be the management of manures and slurries. I am keeping the position under review in relation to other groundwaters and surface waters which may need additional protection.
Other form of water pollution, such as contamination by metals, synthetic organic chemicals and hydrocarbons, can damage or destroy aquatic life. While these forms of pollution are considered to be of minor significance in Ireland, reflecting the low level of heavy industry, I propose to make regulations in the near future to set water quality standards in relation to a number of substances, including certain pesticides, solvents and metals, in order to provide additional protection for waters and to give further effect to EU Directive 76/464/EEC, the "dangerous substances Directive". I will take such additional measures as I consider appropriate from time to time to provide for adequate management and protection of water quality to combat water pollution from all sources.
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