‘Actions to improve water quality must translate into evidence’
Ireland’s water quality is good compared with other EU Member States, but it is still not as good as it should be, according to Ted Massey, Head of the Water and Air Quality Division at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Speaking during a Teagasc Signpost Series webinar on Friday, May 8th, Ted Massey said EPA data shows agriculture remains the most frequent significant pressure on Irish water quality. However, he added, that is not necessarily surprising as agriculture accounts for around two-thirds of land use in Ireland.
Delivering a presentation titled: Improving Water Quality, Ireland’s Sixth Nitrates Action Programme and the Nitrates Derogation, Ted Massey described the challenge facing the sector:
“Excess nutrients are the main challenge that we face from an agricultural perspective in terms of water quality. In recent years, there has been very significant activity undertaken across the agri-food sector to reduce the losses of nitrogen and phosphorus to water and that is very welcome.
“However, ultimately there will always be a lag time between when an action takes place and when we see its full impact environmentally and we need to see those actions translating into clear evidence of improvement because data is becoming increasingly important.”
This evidence, he said, is becoming increasingly important as Ireland has introduced its latest Nitrates Action Programme and secured an extension to its Nitrates Derogation.
“In reality, in 18 months’ time from now, we will be back into a review phase,” Ted Massey said, adding that Ireland will be considering the policy context and engaging with the European Commission on what will apply from 2029 onwards.
“It is very important that we see the action that’s taking place on the ground now translating into evidence of improvement in terms of water quality,” he added.
From a monitoring and legislative perspective, Ted Massey commented that the Water Framework Directive remains a key overarching piece of EU legislation for the protection of water quality in Ireland. Setting out an approach to tackle water pollution, this framework requires water bodies to achieve at least good ecological status by 2027
“From our perspective based on the EPA data published last autumn, 52% of our water bodies are currently achieving at least good ecological status, so that means the other 48% need to show improvement,” Ted Massey added.
Ted Massey also referred to the Government’s third River Basin Management Plan under which, each sector impacting water quality has developed a Sectorial Action Plan which sets out the actions they are undertaking
“The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage tracks our progress against those actions. There’s a big focus on monitoring of activity to ensure the sectors are doing what they are meant to be doing. Within the Agricultural Sector Action Plan, the Nitrates Action Programme is a key part of that along with other things such as support for ASSAP, support for the Farming for Water EIP.”
For further insights, Ted Massey’s full presentation to the Signpost Series is available to view in the recording below: