John Gormley
Question:118 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans he has to improve water quality here to comply with all EU Directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5126/01]
Written Answers. - Water Quality.
The Environmental Protection Agency report, Ireland's Environment: a Millennium Report, confirms that by international standards, Irish waters are in good condition. The report however, identifies eutrophication, or over-enrichment of waters, mainly by phosphorus, as perhaps Ireland's most serious environmental pollution problem. Agriculture has been identified as the single biggest contributor in this regard accounting for 73% of total phosphorus inputs.
Since 1997 my Department has been pursuing a comprehensive, catchment-based 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. The strategy is already beginning to show evidence of some improvements in water quality. In some instances, like Nenagh and Athlone where phosphorus reduction has been incorporated in sewage treatment, measurements have shown a significant reduction of phosphorus concentrations in the receiving waters.
The recently published EPA report, River Shannon: Lake Water Quality Monitoring 1998 & 1999, indicates a reduction in the symptoms of eutrophication in Loughs Key, Ree and Derg, due in part to the impact of zebra mussels. To address the problem of eutrophication by phosphorus and to give effect to EU Directive 76/464/EEC (Dangerous Substances), in 1998 I made the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977 (Water Quality Standards for Phosphorus) Regulations, 1998 which set clear targets for reducing phosphorus levels in rivers and lakes by the end of 2007.
In addition, a voluntary agreement with the Irish Detergents and Allied Products Association (IDAPA) now provides for an incremental move, to be completed by the end of 2002, to zero phosphate domestic laundry detergents by IDAPA members. I have recently enacted the Water Quality (Dangerous Substances) Regulations, 2001 (S.I. No.12 of 2001) which give further effect to EU Directive 76/464/EEC and support implementation of the recently adopted water framework directive (2000/60/EC).
As part of the implementation of the newly adopted Water Framework Directive (WFD) (2000/60/EC) my Department is now extending its catchment-based strategy by 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.
Agricultural sources will continue to be tackled also by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development through substantially funded schemes, including the rural environment protection scheme and the scheme for management of farmyard waste, as well as through the promotion of nutrient management planning. Agricultural sources are also being addressed by way of by-laws made by local authorities under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts.
Monitoring of waters as required by the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) was carried out in 1992/93 and again in 1997/98. Based on the later monitoring, I announced in July 2000 that certain groundwaters, in five counties (Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Louth and Waterford) are susceptible to pollution by nitrates. Work is now proceeding towards the identification of the relevant catchments, which will be designated as nitrate vulnerable zones, where special measures will be taken to protect water quality.
The National Development Plan, 2000-2006 provides for capital investment of £3 billion in water services. The major portion of this expenditure will be directed to investment in the provision and upgrading of waste water treatment facilities. The investment will largely complete Ireland's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which is one of the most important pieces of EU legislation for environmental protection. The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) is fully transposed by way of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 (Urban Waste Water Treatment) Regulations, 1994.
Directive 80/778/EEC was implemented in Ireland by the European Communities (Quality of Water Intended for Human Consumption) Regulations, 1988 (S.I. No. 81 of 1988). Amending regulations were made in 1999 and 2000 (S.I. No. 350 of 1999 and S.I. No. 177 of 2000) to tighten up certain aspects of the regulations. The EU Commission has, however, initiated proceedings in the European Court of Justice (ECJ) alleging non-compliance by Ireland with the requirements of the directive, mainly in relation to water quality deficiencies in private, rural group water schemes. Record investment of £420 million provided under the rural water programme is being targeted at remedying deficiencies in these schemes. A vigorous defence of the ECJ proceedings has been lodged.
The European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations, 2000 (S.I. No. 439 of 2000) were made in December 2000 and will come into operation on 1 January 2004. These regulations transpose EU Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption. Specific standards and other requirements for water quality have been set in statutory instruments transposing other EU directives for a range of water uses, notably in respect of groundwater, bathing waters, surface waters for the abstraction of drinking water, waters supporting salmonid and cyprinid fish, and shellfish.