Municipal sources in over 50% of serious pollution

OF the 39 locations assessed as seriously polluted in the most recent three-year report on water quality, the likely cause of pollution in 21 of these cases were suspected to be municipal sources, according to Environment Minister John Gormley.

He said municipal sources (mainly sewage discharges) and agricultural activities are the main sources of nutrient enrichment. A further 386 sites were considered moderately polluted, with municipal sources the suspected cause in 166 of them.