Measures to improve water quality must gather pace
Despite water quality improving in some areas, the overall trend continues downwards. That was a key message delivered by Dr. Jenny Deakin, Programme Manager with the EPA, who addressed the Teagasc National Water Quality Conference in Co. Laois, today, October 29.
Presenting data from the EPA’s latest 3-yearly report on water quality, Dr. Deakin noted that 52% of surface waters are at good or high ecological status, down from 54% in the last assessment.
On how improvements to water quality can be achieved, Dr. Deakin said: “All sectors have a role to play. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus losses from agriculture remain a key contributing factor.”
Although nitrogen and phosphorous play a key role, it was highlighted that there is evidence that phosphorus concentrations are reducing in the areas where actions are being targeted, which is positive. Nitrogen concentrations have also reduced in recent years, although they remain too high in the southeast.
“While there are many actions being undertaken across the sector to improve water quality, the scale and pace of implementation needs to be increased,” she said.
Dr. Jenny Deakin tells Fiona Doolan, Teagasc Catchment Co-Ordinator, more in the below video:
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As to some of the measures introduced by the EPA to achieve this, Dr. Deakin said: “The EPA has updated our tools and maps to help target the right measures in the place. The evidence shows that in the Priority Areas for Action, where actions are being targeted, there are greater levels of improvement in phosphorus concentrations than elsewhere. This highlights the progress that can be made when actions are targeted.”
As a means to accelerate progress, Dr. Deakin also noted that better data also needs to be collected on when and where actions are being implemented to provide better information on how progress can be accelerated.
For more from the Teagasc Water Quality Conference visit here.
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