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Ireland’s Environment 2012
52
4. Complete elimination of
dangerous substances (priority
substances) and control of
specific pollutants to protect
aquatic communities and
human health.
5. Ensuring that there is a sufficient
volume of water in all our water
bodies.
6. Controlling hydromorphological
conditions (physical characteristics
of the shape and boundaries of
the water body) both in-stream
and along riparian zones.
Reaching these goals of the WFD
is the major task now facing Irish
water managers (Table 4.5). The
plans themselves may be seen
as somewhat generic, but with
prioritisation and breakdown to local
level, together with on-the-ground
actions, progress can be made.
Examples of such progress already
made are outlined in the topic boxes:
‘Encouraging Results in Limerick’ and
‘Elimination of Serious Pollution’.
Between 2010 and 2012, the
European Commission conducted
a ‘Fitness Check’ of EU Freshwater
Policy and an assessment of the
RBMPs of the EU Member States. It
found that there were weaknesses
in the implementation of the current
EU water legislation across Europe
generally and that, in addition,
there are conflicts between the
EU’s water policy and other sectoral
policies’ objectives (EC, 2012). In
particular, the EC identified the
need for improved coherence with
the Common Agriculture Policy and
with EU Regional Policy to ensure
EU funds are better targeted at
measures that deliver improvements
to water and compliances with water
legislation. Improved coherence is
also needed with renewable energy
and transport policy to ensure
that measures adopted for climate
mitigation do not cause unintended
negative impacts on water. As part
of a response to the challenges
and to ensure the achievement
of EU water policy objectives, the
EC has proposed a
Blueprint to
Safeguard Europe’s Water Resources
(EC, 2012). The overall aim of the
Blueprint is to ensure availability of
good-quality water for sustainable
and equitable water use in line
with the WFD objectives. The time
horizon of the Blueprint is 2020,
as it is closely related to the EU
Resource Efficiency Roadmap, and
will in fact be the water milestone
on that Roadmap.
The main focus of the proposed
Blueprint is to:
n
improve the implementation of
current EU water policy
n
foster the integration of water
and other policies’ objectives,
with trade-offs managed on the
basis of a better understanding
of the costs and benefits of both
economic activities and water
resources management
n
seek the completion of the
EU water policy framework,
especially in relation to water
quantity, efficiency and
adaptation to climate change.
Tackling Diffuse Pollution
Agricultural activities associated
with water pollution include land
spreading of artificial fertilisers
and animal manures in unsuitable
climatic and ground conditions,
silage effluent discharges, farmyard
runoff, watering animals and poorly
managed ring feeders.
A range of actions are available to
control water pollution under existing
legislation. The implementation and
enforcement of the Nitrates Action
Plan under the EU Nitrates Directive
is the most important measure to
address diffuse agricultural pollution
of freshwaters. This includes a code
Table 4.5
Percentage of River Water Bodies within Individual River Basin Districts Planned to Achieve at Least Good
Status by 2015, 2021 or 2027
River Basin District
2009
2015
2021
2027
Eastern
40
~40
80
100
Neagh Bann
22
27
99
99
Northwestern
54
71
99
99.9
Southeastern
47
60
100
100
Shannon
42
61
99
99
Southwestern
67
84
99.7
100
Western
66
74
99.9
100