John Gormley
Question:176 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the timescale and the legal instruments he intends to use in phasing out the use of phosphorous here. [2469/03]
Written Answers. - Water Quality.
The EPA's triennial report on the quality of water in Ireland 1998-2000, identified for the first time since the national surveys began 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 the 1995-1997 period to 70% in the 1998-2000 period. Notwithstanding this, the EPA has identified eutrophication of inland freshwaters as probably Ireland's most serious environmental pollution problem. Eutrophication arises mainly from excess nutrients inputs from sources such as agriculture, sewage and industry. Agriculture has been identified as the biggest contributor of nutrients to water, accounting for 73% of all phosphorus inputs and 82% of nitrate inputs.
The primary legislative provisions for the protection and improvement of water quality are contained in the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts 1977 and 1990. The Acts include, inter alia, a general prohibition on the polluting of waters, provisions concerning licensing of discharges to waters and to sewers, the establishment and application of water quality standards, and the making of water quality management plans by local authorities. Section 66 of the Waste Management Act 1996 amended the 1977 Acts to provide for additional control of substances which could pollute water, including phosphorus.
Since 1997, my Department has been pursuing a comprehensive, national strategy to tackle all sources of phosphorus inputs to water. This includes an integrated catchment management approach, which is widely acknowledged as the best way forward to tackle eutrophication. Alongside a long-term target of improving all unsatisfactory waters in rivers and lakes, interim quality standards were identified to be achieved generally over a ten year timeframe. Statutory effect was given to those standards and timeframe under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977 and the Water Quality Standards for Phosphorus Regulations, 1998.
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 including phosphorus. These projects will facilitate implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) which requires the maintenance of high status water quality, where it exists, and the achievement of at least good water status, generally within a 15 year timeframe. The south-east river basin management project was approved in March 2002. A project in relation to the Shannon River basin began on 6 January 2003. River basin management projects for the east and the west have also been approved in principle. I also refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 166 and 404 on today's Order Paper.