Water Quality
The Environment Section has a responsibility to control pollution of waters and to take steps to improve surface water quality and achieve the targets set out under the Water Framework Directive.
Pollution Control Activities
Pollution Investigations
The Environment Section are required to investigate any reports or complaints
of water pollution from the public. Environment staff will carry out a site
investigation to identify the nature and source of the pollution. The person
responsible will then be required to stop the pollution and may be liable
for the cost of clean up and may be prosecuted under the Water Pollution
Act 1977 and 1990.
Monitoring
Monitoring of surface waters (rivers and lakes) is carried out by the EPA Laboratory.
The EPA reports its results in an annual report. They reported last year
on the results for 2005: - “Seriously
polluted waters in the county have continued to decrease with the historic
trend to 8.1% in 2002 from 12.1% in 1980 however the number of monitoring
stations where slight/moderate pollution has been detected has increased
to 24.4% from 13.1% over the same period. Unpolluted stations have decreased
from 74.8% to 67.7%. The increase in moderately polluted waters is attributable
to eutrophication resulting from excess phosphorus. The report identifies
that the overall conditions in Lough Derg are reasonably satisfactory”.
Farm Surveying
The source of this excess phosphorus is mainly from sewage discharges and agricultural
runoff. The Environment Section is actively involved in carrying out farm
surveys in order to improve farm waste management. Survey work has been ongoing
since the introduction of the Agricultural Bye-Laws in 2000. Over 900 farms
were inspected in the Bye-Law area and survey work has now been initiated
within several other river sub-catchments.
Legislation
Statutory responsibility for water management and protection rests primarily with local authorities. The Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts 1977 and 1990 and regulations made thereunder, including regulations giving effect to EU Directive, constitute the main national legislation in this regard.
The Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts 1977 and 1990 enable local authorities to:
- prosecute for water pollution offences;
- attach appropriate pollution control conditions in the licensing of effluent discharges from industry, etc., made to waters or to sewers;
- issue notices ("section 12 notices") to farmers, etc., specifying measures to be taken within a prescribed period to prevent water pollution.
- issue notices requiring a person to cease the pollution of waters and requiring the mitigation or remedying of any effects of the pollution in the manner and within the period specified in such notices;
- seek court orders, including High Court injunctions, to prevent, terminate, mitigate or remedy pollution/its effects;
- prepare water quality management plans for any waters in or adjoining their functional areas;
- make bye-laws regulating certain agricultural activities where the local authority considers this to be necessary so as to prevent or eliminate pollution of waters,
- issue notices requiring farmers to prepare nutrient management plans with the aim of ensuring that nutrients applied to land from chemical fertilisers and organic farm wastes, e.g. slurries, take account of nutrients already available in the soil and are consistent with recommended application rates, crop requirement and the need to avoid water pollution.
Further information about water quality legislation and policy is available at www.environ.ie and via the Enfo Factsheets available at www.enfo.ie
The text of Irish Legislation can be viewed online in the Irish Statute Book available on the Attorney Generals website @ http://www.irlgov.ie/ag/default.htm
Algal Blooms
Algal blooms on Lough Derg are caused by Blue/green algae, also known as cyanobacteria.
Blue/green algae occur when there is the right combination of temperature, light, nutrients, wind speed and direction.They appear as bright green algae in the water column and on the surface of the water and can resemble paint in and on the water.Blue/green algae can cause skin irrations when people come in contact with the toxins produced by the algae and swimmers are advised to shower after swimming.
The toxins produced by the Blue/green algae can be fatal if ingested by dogs. To avoid dogs drinking the lake water during the summer month’s, dog owners are advised to bring drinking water for their dogs with them. Dogs should be given a drink before the dogs come in contact with the water.
Translate 
