Irish Examiner view: We must act to tackle unsatisfactory water quality levels

The main threats to water quality are high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus arising from agriculture or wastewater discharges

The Environmental Protection Agency reported that almost half of our rivers have unsatisfactory water quality levels due to high concentrations of polluting nitrogen.

Even in a week with so much to celebrate, our unrelenting misuse of natural resources cannot be ignored. 

This week’s report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that almost half of our rivers have unsatisfactory water quality levels due to high concentrations of polluting nitrogen is not news but it cannot be brushed aside either.