Weather extremes - Stark warning

RESEARCH carried out by Met Éireann suggests that unless many of our riverside towns quickly prepare strengthened flood defences they can expect recurring and increasingly violent winter flooding.

The research suggests that our rivers’ winter levels might rise by up to 20%. At the other end of the spectrum Met Éireann suggests that drier summers will reduce some river flows to mere trickles.

These predictions, if realised, have the potential to have a profoundly negative impact on the sectors of our economy that depend on great quantities of clean water. They would also have serious implications for species dependent on a clean and secure river environment. Shortages will inevitably mean water charges if only to try to get us to change our flagrant habits.

We have been poor custodians of our waterways and no matter what water quality figures or pollution indices are rolled out anyone who can tell a sea trout form a salmon will know that far too many of our rivers and lakes are dreadfully polluted.

If these predictions come to pass we will have only ourselves to blame because they are a result of ourcontinuing indifference to the impact our behaviour is having on the world around us.