Agriculture run off ‘key factor’ in water quality - EPA

Eighteen Cavan water bodies are in either ‘poor’ or ‘bad’ condition according to the latest Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report.

The ‘Water Quality in Ireland 2013–2018’ survey published this week shows that only 53% of Irish surface water bodies have satisfactory water quality, signalling a considerable deterioration in water quality. It points to an increase in nitrogen (N) run-off from agriculture seen as a key factor in this.
The survey shows the ecological status of 2,355 monitored river water bodies by local authority regions. It identifies the number of water bodies in each status class in each region is also shown. In Cavan three river bodies were ranked as in high condition, 31 in good condition, 18 in moderate, 17 poor and none in bad condition.
The 2016–2018 data for nitrates concentrations show river sites in Cavan are classed as either high or good quality, however in the phosphates concentration the county fares poorly. The report acknowledges that trends in the county are stable for nitrates and mixed for phosphates, with east of the county showing areas of increase.
Under the heading of lakes things look a little bleaker. Most sites are marked as moderate, but 13 are noted as poor and two flagged as having bad ecological status. Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim are the only counties with lakes marked as 'bad', having greater than 0.1 mg/l of total phosphorus concentrations. The Cavan lake was Corglass. 
Lake water status for each of the 37 catchments with monitored lakes were cited in the report. Catchments with the highest number of lakes are: Erne (40 lakes), Erriff–Clew Bay (16 lakes), Gweebarra–Sheephaven (16 lakes), Corrib (12 lakes), Shannon Estuary North (11 lakes) and Galway Bay North (10 lakes).
Of the 40 Erne lakes four were rated good, 20 moderate, 13 poor and three bad. An assessment of total phosphorus concentration in 59 lakes was carried out using annual average data for 2013 to 2018. Of the 59 lakes analysed, 29 lakes were stable, 13 lakes had an improving trend and 17 lakes had a deteriorating trend. Two lakes had a strong deteriorating trend; these were Inner Lough (Co. Monaghan) and Drumlaheen Lough (Co Leitrim).
EPA director Matt Crowe said: “The main significant pressures impacting water quality in Ireland include agriculture, wastewater discharges, impacts to the physical habitat conditions including excess sediment (hydromorphology), and pressures from forestry activities.”