A HIGHER level of environmental enforcement has seen the number of polluted river stretches here fall by more than a quarter and industrial emissions halved in some areas, according to a new report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The report, Focus on Environmental Enforcement in Ireland, found that less than 1 per cent of Irish river stations were seriously polluted, with 29 stretches classified as such in 2008, compared to 39 in 2006.
Water pollution was linked to three areas – industry, agriculture and waste water treatment plants. Of the 51 prosecutions taken by the agency between 2006-08, 28 related to emissions into the water supply. Almost half of those, 12, related to landspreading and accordance with nutrient guidelines and a further eight related to spillages or discharge into water systems.
A total of 75,000 water inspections were carried out by the agency last year, up from 54,000 in 2007. It inspected 41 waste water plants operated by 22 local authorities last year and found there to be recurring problems such as poor treatment capacity, insufficient sampling frequencies and poor effluent quality.
The report noted that many of these issues had an impact on the quality of water and stressed that the issues should be urgently addressed by local authorities.
The agency issued 45 notices stating that drinking water quality needed to be improved last year, compared to 22 in 2007. Issues noted in the area included poor filter operation, inadequate monitoring and a lack of alert systems.
Some 97 per cent of bathing water sites met mandatory European Union standards, but only 90 per cent met more strict EU standards, a decrease on the 2006 level.
EPA director Dara Lynott said increased regulation was a driver for improvement and a cleaner environment. “We have less pollution entering the environment; without regulation, we could not have the outcomes we see now.”
Mr Lynott said challenges remain and new infrastructure was needed in the areas of waste, wastewater and drinking water.
In the area of waste disposal, the report notes that an increase in the amount of recycling has caused odorous gas generation at landfill sites occurring sooner and at significantly higher rates.
The number of complaints about waste facilities increased fourfold between 2004 and 2008 from 361 to 1,460. Over 90 per cent of these were in connection with 10 facilities, of which five have been prosecuted.
Over 300 complaints related to Knockharley landfill in Nava, Co Meath. Over 200 related to Corranure landfill in Co Cavan and more than 100 regarded Youghal landfill in Co Cork.
In the area of emissions, some progress was noted. The EPA said that in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors emissions fell 59 per cent from 1995 to 2007, even though output rose 70 per cent.
