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Water
47
phosphate and nitrate is shown
in Figure 4.4. This is based on
a comparison of the reported
concentrations in rivers across
Europe in the period 2007–2009.
Ireland’s water quality compares
very favourably with that of other
EU countries, typically ranking in
the top third of the 30+ assessed.
However, there is no room for
complacency as Ireland faces
significant challenges in meeting
the requirements of the WFD within
the specified timeframes. These
are the same as in most other EU
countries. Pollution from nutrients
and organic matter arising from
sewage, agriculture and industrial
sources is still the most common
form of pollution across Europe. The
WFD programmes of measures to
address these sources are discussed
further later.
Figure 4.4
Comparison of Ireland’s River Water Quality with that of other European Countries 2007–2009
(Ireland is shown in green) (Source: EEA)
Phosphate (mg/l P)
Ammonia (mg/l N)
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
AL
BG
MK
BE
RS
PT
HU
ES
IT
CY
RO
NL
SK
GB
CZ
DE
BA
LT
DK
FR
LU
HR
IE
LV
EE
AT
SI
CH
SE
FI
IS
NO
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
AL
BE
PT
CY
RO
IT
LU
ES
BG
RS
SK
PL
MK
BA
CZ
HU
ME
LT
NL
FR
DE
HR
LV
AT
EE
IE
LI
SI
SE
GB
FI
NO
IS
BOD (mg/l O
2
)
Nitrate (mg/l N)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
AL
MK
RO
BE
IT
BG
BA
RS
CY
PL
CZ
PT
HU
LT
ME
ES
SE
SK
LU
DE
EE
HR
FI
FR
LV
NL
GB
DK
AT
IE
SI
0
1
2
3
4
5
LU
BE
DK
TR
FR
DE
CZ
NL
GB
LI
ES
PL
EE
RS
IT
SK
LT
CH
AT
MK
LV
PT
CY
IE
ME
BG
RO
SI
HR
BA
HU
SE
AL
FI
NO
IS