EPA publishes Water Quality in Ireland Report 2016 – 2021
The EPA has published the ‘Water Quality in Ireland Report 2016-2021’ which provides the latest assessment of the quality of Ireland’s rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal and groundwaters.
The report shows that over half (54%) of our surface waters are in good or better ecological status which means that nearly half (46%) are in unsatisfactory condition. 91% of groundwaters are in good status. Overall, our water quality is declining and the number of monitored water bodies in satisfactory condition has decreased since the last assessment. There is a relatively small decline in water quality of our rivers and lakes. The number of estuaries and coastal water bodies in satisfactory condition has decreased by almost 16% and 10% respectively. There has also been a slight decline (0.8%) in the quality of our groundwaters with more groundwater bodies now in poor condition.
When targeted action is taken, improvements in water quality can be achieved.
Concentrations of these nutrients are far too high in many of our water bodies. 43% of river sites, mostly in the south and southeast of the country, have high nitrate concentrations while nearly a third of river sites (30%) and a third of lakes (33%) have elevated phosphorus concentrations. Phosphorus levels are particularly high in lakes in the northeast of the country.
Agriculture is the most prevalent significant pressure causing water quality impacts. Improvements within the Priority Areas for Action exceeded improvements outside these areas. This indicates that when targeted action is taken, improvements in water quality can be achieved.
Is Water Quality Improving or Declining?
Overall, our water quality is declining and the number of water bodies in satisfactory condition (high or good status) across rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters and groundwaters has decreased since the last assessment which covered the period 2013-2018.
Rivers: There has been a 1% decline in the number of river water bodies in satisfactory condition. We are failing to protect our highest quality rivers; only 43% of our rivers which should be at high status are achieving that standard. Over the period of this assessment there were 161 fish kills recorded. Any fish kill is unacceptable and their causes need to be eradicated.
Lakes: There has been 2.7% decline in the number of lake water bodies in satisfactory condition. The majority of high and good ecological status lakes are found in the southwest, west and northwest of the country. The catchments with the highest percentage of lakes with unsatisfactory water quality are situated in the northeast which is attributed to high phosphorus levels.
Estuaries: There has been a marked decline of 15.7% decline in the number of estuarine water bodies in satisfactory condition. This decline is most evident in the south and southeast of the country where excessive nutrient losses to water are damaging the ecology of these waters.
Coastal water: There has been a 9.5% decline in the number of coastal water bodies in satisfactory condition.
Groundwater: There has been a 0.8% decline in the quality of our groundwaters with more groundwater bodies now in poor condition.
The decline reported in this assessment reflects the general pattern of decline in satisfactory water quality seen since the first assessment of ecological status was undertaken in the period 2007-2009.
Source – Environmental Protection Agency