1. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie Module 3: Water Quality Unit 1: Current Status Algal Bloom on a lake shoreline

2. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie Objectives of this presentation  To look at the extent to which Ireland’s surface waters are less than ‘good status’  To examine the timescale within which serious deterioration has occurred  To consider evidence of recent recovery in water quality

3. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie The current status of water bodies RBD plans use a five-tier ranking system to classify surface water quality  High, Good, Moderate, Poor and Bad status Ecological classification combined three factors:  Biology  Supporting water condition (general conditions and specific pollutants)  Supporting hydrology and morphology (physical condition) “One out and out” principle

4. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie Number of Water Bodies Lake Water Status Lake Water Status: The National Picture (2008)

5. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie River/canals Water Status: The National Picture (2008) Number of Water Bodies River Water Status

6. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie The North West and Neagh Bann River Basin Districts

7. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie River/canal water interim status in the North Western District (2008) Number of Water Bodies River Water Status Lake Water Status

8. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie River Water Status in the Neagh Bann District Current Status (2008) Number of Water Bodies River Water Status Lake Water Status

9. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie River Interim Status For County Monaghan (2008) Number of Water Bodies River Water Status Lake Water Status

10. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie Changes to a typical lake since the 1970s Sedimentary Record:  Increased phosphorous inputs from catchment  Increased algal production  Increased organic matter deposition 1970s catchment Present day catchment

11. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie River Water Quality 1971 – 2007 – Case Study Unpolluted Slightly polluted Moderately polluted Seriously polluted

12. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie The good news – some improvements in water quality have been measured since the mid 90s Dromore River- station 100 Mountain Water- station 650 River phosphorus levels (mg/lP)

13. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie Where we’re at! Hard Surface Runoff/Car wash Illegal dumping Lawn grass - dumped in stream Contaminated storm water drain

14. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie Poaching and run-off from cattle feeding area Discharge from site development Fungus in stream from high strength organic wastes Effluent following land- spreading Oil-spill incident

15. Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie Discussion/Exercise Read and discuss the River Basin District Management Plan for your area