Written Answers. - Water Quality.
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:
92
Mr. Broughan
asked the
Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government
the steps being taken to address the unsatisfactory water quality in many popular bathing areas identified in the recent report of the Environmental Protection Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16498/03]
The report of the European Commission on the quality of bathing water for the 2002 bathing season, a copy of which is in the Oireachtas Library, confirms that Irish bathing waters are amongst the best in Europe in terms of water quality. This report indicates that Ireland has, as in 2001, excellent bathing water quality, with 97.7% of the combined total sea water and fresh water bathing areas complying with the mandatory standards laid down in the bathing water directive.
Monitoring of bathing water quality is undertaken in accordance with national regulations implementing the European Council directive on quality of bathing waters 76/160/EEC. The annual report on the quality of bathing water in Ireland is prepared by the EPA using the results of monitoring undertaken by local authorities. Where bathing waters do not comply with the specified standards, local authorities are required to take the necessary measures to ensure compliance with the standards prescribed in relation to designated bathing waters by the Quality of Bathing Waters Regulations 1992.
My Department is promoting major investment by local authorities nationwide to upgrade sewerage networks and waste water treatment facilities. The main impact of this investment will be on estuarine and coastal areas. The current water services investment programme, which covers the years 2002-04, relates to 380 wastewater schemes with an estimated capital value of €2.6 billion, including all of the remaining schemes needed for full compliance with the urban wastewater treatment directive which requires specific wastewater treatment and or collection facilities to be in place by 31 December 2005 for discharges for a graduated range of agglomerations thresholds.
By the end of 2003 Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, and many other smaller urbans, will have state-of-the-art waste water treatment facilities in place and operational. Major schemes are well advanced in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Wexford. Other major coastal schemes under construction, or due to start this year, include the Carrigaline, Cobh, Dungarvan, Sligo, Tramore and Waterford main drainage schemes. Schemes for Bray, Bundoran, New Ross and Shanganagh are approved for funding to commence in 2004, together with the Arklow main drainage scheme, subject to the outcome of current legal proceedings relating to the proposed location of the treatment plant in the latter case. This major programme of investment in coastal areas will have a significant positive effect on the quality of bathing water in the surrounding areas.
The Ringsend waste water treatment plant, the largest such project hitherto constructed in Ireland, which is currently being commissioned, will deal with the waste water treatment requirements of all of Dublin City and south Dublin, significant areas of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Fingal, and parts of County Meath. This scheme, which includes nutrient removal or tertiary treatment, will serve a population equivalent of 1.6 million and will produce the single biggest ever improvement in the quality of Irish coastal waters and in time restore bathing water standards throughout Dublin Bay.
