EPA flags phosphorus pollution issue in Erne catchment
QUALITY Fourteen of 69 Cavan Rivers deemed of 'Poor' quality
The majority of lakes found to have 'unsatisfactory' levels of phosphorus in a nationwide study by the EPA were in the Erne Catchment, a national report has found.
The EPA today published 'Water Quality in 2020: An Indicators Report' which provides an assessment of the quality of Ireland’s rivers, lakes, estuaries and groundwaters and found the main threat to water quality is high nutrient levels, such as phosphorus and nitrogen which come from human activities.
Regarding phosphorus levels, the report explained that 223 lakes nationally were assessed from 2018 to 2020. It proceeds to outline in its findings: 'In the period 2018-2020 almost a third (30%) of lakes had unsatisfactory total phosphorus concentrations. The majority of lakes in poor or bad condition for phosphorus are situated in the Erne catchment in the northeast where agriculture is the largest significant pressure.'
The report says that phosphorus levels are "a key indicator" because of its impact on the ecological health of the lake.
It proceeded to explain: 'Measures are needed to reduce the loadings of phosphorus to the lakes in the northeast. Improvements in phosphorus concentrations can take a long time as these lakes will still have a reservoir of phosphorus in their sediments that will continue to impact water quality as it is slowly released.'
The report further provides a breakdown of river quality by local authority. Of the 69 rivers assessed under Cavan County Council's area, eight were deemed 'High' quality, 31 were 'Good', 16 'Moderate', 14 were 'Poor' and zero were 'Bad'.
The main focus of the reaction to the report has been on nitrogen levels, which were particularly bad elsewhere in the Republic.
“Our water quality is currently under threat with nitrogen pollution from agriculture causing particular pressure in parts of the south, southeast and east of the country," said EPA Director of Evidence and Assessment, Dr Eimear Cotter.
"If we do not substantially reduce nitrogen inputs to our rivers, and ultimately our marine environment, we are in danger of further deteriorations in water quality and losing our excellent coastal water quality.”
Just over half of Ireland’s rivers and lakes are in satisfactory biological quality which means that a large number are unable to sustain healthy ecosystems for fish, insects and plants.
President of ICMSA, Mr. Pat McCormack said, that while challenges remain in relation to water quality, it is important that the improvements in water quality are acknowledged and recognition given to the various initiatives being taken at individual farm level and industry level to further improve water quality.
Mr McCormack said, that to listen to some commentators, one could easily get the impression that farmers are not making efforts to improve water quality and nothing could be further from the truth.
"There are challenges which farmers will tackle," said Mr. McCormack "but there are also positives including 89% of rivers have satisfactory BOD values, 71% of rivers have satisfactory P levels, 53% of rivers have satisfactory N levels and if compared to our EU counterparts, Ireland is in a good position."
He added: "Programmes such as ASSAP are delivering results without regulation and the concentration now should be on working with farmers on practical measures to further improve water quality through a new Agri-environment scheme and avoid excessive regulation that are unpractical and will not deliver the desired results."