Written Answers. - Water Quality.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
159
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the steps he has taken to avert the possible pollution of waterways in the course of the winter or summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7417/02]
Primary responsibility for the protection and improvement of water quality is assigned to local authorities under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts and related legislation. The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, exercises general supervision in relation to the performance of these functions by local authorities.
Water quality in Ireland is generally satisfactory. The EPA report on water quality in Ireland for the period 1998-2000, launched on 24 January 2002, indicates, for the first time since national surveys commenced in 1971, a reversal in the downward trend in water quality with a reported increase in the length of unpolluted river channel, from 67% in 1995-97 period to 70% in 1998-2000 period. In addition lake surface area classified as unpolluted has increased from 65% to 93% over the same periods.
Since 1997, my Department has been pursuing a comprehensive national strategy to tackle all sources of eutrophication over-enrichment, caused mainly by excess inputs of phosphorus. As part of the strategy, major catchment-based projects have been advanced in respect of Loughs Derg, Ree and Leane – Killarney – and the Rivers Suir, Boyne and Liffey to establish water quality monitoring and management systems. The catchment based strategy is underpinned by 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 end 2007.
My Department is now promoting the estab lishment 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 at least 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. River basin management projects for the east, the south-east, the River Shannon and the west have been approved in principle. Financial support at a rate of 100% will be provided by my department for expenditure incurred by local authorities in relation to these projects.
This comprehensive approach is being supported by my Department's major investment programme in sewerage infrastructure facilities throughout the country. The national development plan provides for capital investment of €3,700 million on water services, the major portion of which will be devoted to waste water infrastructure. The investment programme places particular emphasis on the provision of phosphorus reduction facilities where a need is indicated in this regard.
Ten water bodies were designated as sensitive areas under regulations made in 1994, which required the provision of phosphorus reduction facilities in the large urban waste water treatment plants concerned. This work has been completed. In June 2001 I made the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations, 2001, which designated a further 30 water bodies as sensitive areas and require the provision of nutrient reduction facilities, phosphorus and-or nitrogen, by 31 May 2008. Comprehensive details of the nutrient reduction programme to be pursued have been finalised. A total of 32 urban areas have been identified of which 11 already have the required nutrient reduction facilities in place. The remaining works will be undertaken as rapidly as possible.
Facilitated by regulations which I made in 1998 to extend and strengthen their powers, by-laws have been made by certain local authorities under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts to protect waters against pollution by agriculture. My colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, has substantial initiatives underway to tackle phosphorus inputs from agriculture, including the rural environment protection scheme and the new farm waste management scheme.
In December 1999 I signed a voluntary agreement with the Irish Chemical and Detergents Association Detergents, ICDA, then known as the Irish Detergents and Allied Products Association, for the effective phasing-out of the marketing by its members of phosphate-based domestic laundry detergents products in Ireland. ICDA members supply some 90% of the domestic laundry detergents marketed in Ireland. These targets set under the agreement are being reached or exceeded. In addition, my Department is liaising with the non-ICDA suppliers in relation to the remaining 10% of the market with a view to obtaining similar commitments for the own-brand sector. Significant progress is being made in this regard.
An assessment prepared by the EPA, at the request of my Department, in relation to the trophic status of estuaries and bays, identified a total of 17 estuarine water bodies as eutrophic or potentially eutrophic. This assessment became available in March 2001 and indicated a need to reduce nitrates inputs to waters in extensive areas in the east, south east and south which flow into these estuaries. This is of particular significance in the context of the implementation of the nitrates directive.
Proposals are now being developed in my Department for regulations to provide a statutory basis for the application in all areas of established standards of good farming practice. These will give further effect to a number of EU directives on waste and water quality, including the nitrates directive, and generally strengthen and support measures for the protection of the environment. It would be possible in the context of these regulations for the livestock manure application limits specified in the nitrates directive to be applied in all areas or to certain areas designated as nitrate vulnerable zones. The detailed provisions of the regulations will be developed over the coming months in consultation with the farming bodies and other interests. An information paper from my Department on good agricultural practice and protection of the Environment sets out the background issues involved and responds to queries raised in recent discussions with the main farming organisations and other interested parties. A copy of the paper is in the Oireachtas Library.
While other forms of water pollution, such as contamination by metals, synthetic organic chemicals and hydrocarbons are of minor significance in Ireland, reflecting the low level of heavy industry, I made the Water Quality (Dangerous Substances) Regulations, 2001 to assist in reducing further the discharges of these contaminants. These set water quality standards for a number of substances, including certain pesticides, solvents and metals, to provide additional protection for waters and 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.
