Look to legislation for water protection

THE ongoing war of words in relation to the proposal to abstract water from the Shannon river basin, so as to make up the shortfall of water resources necessary to satisfy the drinking water needs of Dublin is rather churlish.

It is indicative of the parlous state of affairs in Ireland with regard to the adoption of good river water basin management practices. The European Union (EU) has established a community framework for water protection and management.

The Framework Directive (2000/60/ EC) provides, among other things, for the identification and analysis of European waters, on the basis of individual river basin districts, and the adoption of management plans and programmes of measures appropriate for each body of water. All of these requirements are clearly set out in the European Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and which have been implemented in Ireland by way of the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Surface Water) Regulations 2009.

Moreover, Schedule 2 of those regulations namely Measures for the Purposes of these Regulations sets out clearly the requirements for water abstraction from within river basins, as well as making provision for a single and consistent environmental risk-based approach covering abstraction and impoundment operations.

For the sake of good order would not those with responsibility for river basin management take cognisance of what is clearly stated in Irish water legislation.

Patrick L O’Brien

Senior Environmental Consultant

Toll House

Victoria Cross, Cork