Article from Colman O’Sullivan – RTE – 5 Sep 2024
The Government has set a target of bringing 300 water bodies to a “good” status by 2027.
The latest action plan on water, launched today, outlines changes to how rivers are managed and protected.
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcom Noonan said the three core aims of the plan are to reduce and prevent pollution, to let more rivers run free and restore their natural ecosystem functions, and continued investment in water infrastructure.
Pollution is a pressing issue. In June, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that there had been no overall improvement in water quality in rivers, lakes and groundwaters in 2023.
There had been progress in some areas, but this had been offset by declines in others, which Dr Eimear Cotter of the EPA said was “really disappointing”.
Latest assessments by the agency said that of 4,842 water bodies in the State, 1,963 (41%) are categorised as not at risk, but 1,649 (34%) are deemed at risk of not meeting water quality targets.
Overall, 54% of surface waters are in good or high ecological status, while the remaining 46% have an unsatisfactory ecological status.
Improvement of water quality will require both investment and a new approach.
Under the plan, Uisce Éireann will invest €2.3 billion and install 108 new wastewater treatment plants and 77 collection networks.
This should help with wastewater pollution of rivers and lakes near urban areas.
Collaboration on farm projects planned
There will be increased inspections of domestic wastewater systems.
Some 1,000 water bodies at risk from agriculture and nitrates pollution the big issue in this area.
The plan includes the provision of 57 new staff for local authorities, and four for the EPA, resulting in 4,500 farm inspections per year under the Nitrates Action Programme.
The Department of Agriculture will also carry out between 500 and 1,000 inspections per year.
The plan proposes a collaborative approach with community forums to be set up across 46 river catchments and a Community Water Development Fund to support local projects and initiatives.
For farmers, there will be a €60 million fund to be spent up to 2027 on a partnership project. It is estimated that up to 15,000 farmers could participate.
On letting the rivers run free, problem barriers will be “mitigated”, the plan outlines.
The target is to address 270 of the estimated 2,000 to 7,000 barriers on rivers across the country.
There will be an initial budget of €10m to improve fish migration on the Lower River Shannon and that will include the design of a new fish pass on the Parteen Weir at the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric scheme in Co Clare.
A feasibility study on the River Dodder in Dublin will look at mitigating barriers on the heavily-urbanised river to open it up to migratory fish species.
There will be a review of the Arterial Drainage Act, which prioritises that rivers flow freely, to ensure that all works are “sustainable and compliant with the environmental objectives”.
For wild and open water swimmers, the plan notes that the risk of illness from poor water quality is lower from June to September.
It promises a research project to look at how to protect their health in the months outside the summer bathing season.
Note: additional links added from initial RTE article