Last week the EPA released their report, Water Quality in Ireland 2010 – 2015 (You can read the full report here) and the results are disappointingly average. Our most polluted waters have improved, waters with “bad status” have reduced in numbers from 19 to just 6, which is great, there’s also a major downside. The number of pristine waters has taken an unfortunate hit. There were 1 per cent and 2.6 per cent declines respectively in high or good “ecological status/potential” of monitored river and lake water bodies since 2007-2009.

This leaves us with an unfortunate move towards average. 57 per cent of rivers, 46 per cent of lakes, 31 per cent of transitional waters (estuaries) and 79 per cent of coastal waters are achieving either good or high status under the Water Framework Directive classifications. These figures don’t sound particularly bad, but when it is taken in the context that we are loosing our pristine waters, and there has been a significant increase in fish kills, it is disappointing.

The report notes that agriculture and domestic wastewater discharges are the main reason why objectives outlined in the Water Framework Directive are not being met.

What can we do? As domestic wastewater (both urban & rural) is a major contributor to the issue, being responsible about what we flush can make a difference, and can easily be implemented. If you don’t flush non-degradable items, which make wastewater treatment equipment less efficient, you are moving in the right direction. If we couple this with responsible use of cleaners and detergents there can be siginificant positive developments in water quality. The ability to change is in our hands, will you take part?