Low water quality trend puts EPA on the alert

FORESTRY and sheep farming are likely to come under closer scrutiny as the EPA detects a worrying trend of decline in the number and percentage of river stations achieving the highest biological water quality.

As these fall from 4.6% to 2.7% of river stations, the EPA has recommended that local authorities identify the causes and rectify them as a matter of urgency, and advised increased control over upland land-users, such as cattle and sheep farmers and foresters.

In the west of Ireland and Wicklow, local authorities, fisheries boards and the EPA have identified forestry activities as a likely primary source of pollution.