Derogation limits to fall over rising nitrate levels in waterways
The Maigue is just one of the catchments in the South-West where nitrates in water are on an upward trend, according to the latest Environmental Protection Agency figures. Picture Dan Linehan
Co-ops have warned that rising waterway nitrate levels will result in derogation limits being lowered for farmers.
Current measures will be reviewed next year, and within catchments where water quality is found to have deteriorated further, the derogation limit could be reduced below 250g per hectare, from 2024 on.
