Report offers bleak outlook for domestic health and water supply

Water quality and public health will come under threat from the likely impacts of climate change in Ireland, a new report warns. Too much rainfall from extreme storms and water shortages due to prolonged droughts will both present major problems, it says.

Deluges will wash pollutants and microplastics from the streets as well as agricultural effluent, chemicals, and fertilisers from the land into water sources, while droughts will leave the same sources stagnant, both putting public health at risk.