Rate of waterway pollution almost halves

premiercad

Good news....from rte.ie http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0224/epa.html

The number of seriously polluted waterways in Ireland has almost halved in the last three years, according to a new report.
EPA report calls for upgrades to treatment facilities


The number of seriously polluted waterways in Ireland has almost halved in the last three years, according to a report published by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The report says that the number of seriously polluted rivers is down to 20.
Agriculture and municipal waste treatment facilities continue to be principal sources of water pollution.
The Tubbercurry River in Sligo and Hind in Roscommon town are two seriously polluted rivers, as a result, the EPA suspects, of pollution from waste water treatment facilities operated by local authorities.
Thousands of samples from hundreds of locations around the country were studied and analysed by the EPA for the three-year report.
Agricultural pollution is still a problem, but phosphate and nitrate pollution is down.
90% of lakes monitored are satisfactory.
Half of those identified as polluted are in Co Cavan.
The EPA has said continued upgrading and investment in waste water treatment is needed.
In many examples investment has been followed by noticeable improvement, the report finds.
The Irish Farmers' Association said that the reduction in phosphate and nitrate levels was the result of €2.5bn investment by farmers in environmental measures.
However, the Department of Agriculture and Food disputed this claim.
A spokesperson said that of the bulk of €2bn investment (€1.2bn) in environmental measures came from the Department's Farm Waste Management Scheme, and that only the remaining €800m came from farmers.

Birdnuts

Saw that - it also mentioned ongoing problems at Lough Arrow in North Roscommon, whats causing the problems in this once fine lake