Pesticide all-clear in preliminary water tests
An extensive national screening programme for over 200 dangerous substances in waters is under way as part of Ireland’s implementation of the EU water framework directive.
Screening for pesticides is being carried out in the areas which have the highest concentrations of farming activity, officials told the Joint Committee on Environment and Local Government.
They said Ireland’s biggest water pollution problem is eutrophication, which is over-enrichment due to phosphorus and, to a lesser extent, nitrates. They also said there is a problem with group water schemes. Ireland has been found to be in breach of the law by the European Court of Justice by failing to ensure drinking water supplies meet prescribed standards, particularly in group water schemes which have their own source of water, as opposed to those who take it from a local authority.
Department officials have identified about 450 schemes which need to be upgraded, and measures are being taken in about 80% of them. The remaining 20% will be addressed before the end of this year.
Aside from old and disused mines and contaminated landfills, the main threat to groundwater is diffuse pollution involving nitric contamination from agriculture, officials said. But measures provided for under the nitrates directive are expected to suffice in the context of agricultural activities and water pollution.
The officials were before the Committee to report on the EU proposal on protection of groundwater against pollution. The proposal aims to ensure groundwater quality is monitored in a harmonised way.
