Written Answers. - Water Quality.
Bernard Allen
Question:
312
Mr. Allen
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the extent to which his Department has provided incentives with the objective of eliminating pollution of waterways; the number of prosecutions taken by his Department in each year from 1997 to 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17707/02]
Bernard Allen
Question:
317
Mr. Allen
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.
[17713/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 317 together.
Primary responsibility among public authorities for the protection and improvement of water quality is assigned to local authorities under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts and related legislation. The EPA exercises general supervision in relation to the performance of these functions by local authorities
Eutrophication or over-enrichment of waters, caused mainly by excess inputs of phosphorus and to a lesser extent nitrates, is the main threat to Irish water quality. Since 1997, my Department has been pursuing a comprehensive, national strategy to tackle all sources of eutrophication. A catchment-based approach to water quality enables all sources of pollution to be dealt with on a comprehensive and integrated basis. As part of the strategy, major catchment-based projects were established 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 combined cost of sewage infrastructure investment in these catchments is €203 million, £160 million, with €8.63 million, £6.8 million, expenditure on monitoring and management systems. This expenditure is supported by European Union Cohesion Funding. The strategy is also 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.
Catchment management is beginning to show early, positive results in some locations. The final report of the Lough Derg and Lough Ree catchment monitoring and management system, a copy of which is in the Oireachtas Library, has shown that water quality has improved significantly and the improvement appears to be continuing with the implementation of a major programme of remedial measures, including phosphorus removal at 17 waste treatment works serving the principal urban areas in the catchment.
My Department is now 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 EU water framework directive which requires the maintenance of high status water quality, where it exists, and the achievement of at least good water status, as defined in the Directive, generally within a 15-year timeframe. 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 DELG for expenditure incurred by local authorities in relation to these projects.
Water quality management is being supported by my Department's major investment programme in sewage infrastructure facilities throughout the country. The national development plan provides for capital investment of €3,700 million 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. Large-scale projects are now being completed or advanced in major cities and towns, including Dublin, Cork, Drogheda, Dundalk, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. Discharges to waters from industrial sources are subject to licensing controls operated by local authorities and the EPA.
Losses to waters of phosphorus and nitrogen from agriculture arise from inadequate waste management at farmyard level and from leaching and run-off from land, particularly following the landspreading of slurries or the use of chemical fertilisers. Facilitated by regulations which I made in 1998 to extend and strengthen their powers, by-laws were 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 and Food, has substantial initiatives under way to tackle nutrient inputs from agriculture, including the rural environment protection scheme and the new farm waste management scheme.
The nitrates directive has been substantially implemented in Ireland by way of extensive monitoring of nitrate levels in water, assessment of trophic status of waters, the development and dissemination in 1996 of a code of good agricultural practice to protect waters from pollution by nitrates and by a range of other measures which operate to protect water quality against pollution from agricultural sources. However, there is a need for additional controls countrywide in relation to agriculture to complement the efforts that are being made in other sectors such as UWWT investment and controls on industrial discharges.
Proposals are now being developed in my Department for an action programme, including regulations, to strengthen the application in all areas of established standards of good farming practice. The regulations 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. The detailed provisions of the action programme and regulations will be developed over the coming months in consultation with the farming bodies and other interests.
A voluntary agreement is in place with the Irish Cosmetics and Detergents Association for the effective phasing-out by end 2002 of the marketing by ICDA members of phosphate-based domestic laundry detergents products in Ireland. 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.
Detailed information in relation to the enforcement activities of local authorities under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts is contained in Environment Bulletin No. 53 issued by my Department, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library. A total of 11,511 enforcement activities are recorded in 2000 and include 6,140 investigations, the issue of 4,898 formal notices and 44 prosecutions. These data do not include enforcement action taken by other authorities or persons for example regional fisheries boards.
Water quality in Ireland is generally satisfactory, especially in comparison with most other European countries and this is confirmed by the EPA report on Water Quality in Ireland 1998-2000 which was published in January 2002, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The report records, 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 some 28% over the periods 1995-97 and 1998-2000.
I refer also to the reply to Questions Nos. 400 of 7 March 2002 and 340 of 26 March 2002 which summarise relevant enforcement activity by local authorities, including prosecutions in the years 1995 to 1999 under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts.
Question No. 313 answered with Question No. 21.
