The water quality in nearly half of Ireland’s rivers, lakes, and waterways is in “unsatisfactory” condition, with farming run-off in the south the culprit for much of the “alarming” deterioration.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned the further decline in water quality means Ireland is currently off course to meet the EU and national goal of restoring all waters to good or better status in the next five years, the Irish Examiner reported.

“Only just over half of rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters are in satisfactory condition. The overall ecological health of these surface waters has declined across all water body types since the last assessment from 2013-2018,” the EPA said in its Water Quality in Ireland report for 2016 to 2021. This means these water bodies are less able to support healthy ecosystems for fish, insects and plants, it said.

There has been a 2.7% decline in the number of lake water bodies in satisfactory condition, a marked decline of 15.7% decline in the number of estuary water bodies in satisfactory condition, and a 9.5% decline in the number of coastal water bodies in satisfactory condition.

The quality of freshwater and marine ecosystems is being damaged mainly by run-off of nutrients, sediment and pesticides from agricultural lands and farmyards, and activities such as land drainage, navigational dredging and the presence of barriers such as dams, weirs or culverts in water courses.

Poorly treated sewage

Discharges of poorly treated sewage from urban wastewater treatment plants, domestic treatment systems and stormwater overflows is also an issue, along with run-off of nutrients and sediment from forestry operations.

Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment Dr Eimear Cotter said the scale of the declines in estuaries and coastal waters is “alarming”. “Areas such as Cork Harbour, Wexford Harbour and the Slaney, Suir and Nore estuaries have lost their good water quality status. This directly impacts the marine biodiversity and ecological value in these areas,” she said.

The story was covered widely, including in the Irish Examiner and RTE. You can find further information at the Environmental Protection Agency website here.