The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN), a network of 25 environmental organisations, has called the new Water Action Plan, published by the Government today, a failed opportunity to introduce the strong measures needed to tackle water pollution and other damage to our rivers, lakes, and coastal habitats.
Almost half our waters (46%) are currently unhealthy or at imminent risk and the plan is only projected to restore 10-20% of these, meaning that about two-fifths of all our rivers, lakes, coastal and ground waters are projected to still be unhealthy, at the end of the plan [1]. This is the third such national water plan, required under the 24 year old EU Water Framework Directive, yet over the past two decades, the number of healthy surface waters here has actually declined [2] as successive governments failed to put in place the necessary pollution protection measures.
Sinéad O’ Brien, Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) Co-ordinator said, “Only 54% of our waters are currently healthy which in itself is completely unacceptable. It is therefore deeply disappointing that, when the measures in this plan are implemented, this is only projected to increase to 60% at best. This is because the plan shied away from introducing the measures that were really needed to halt and reverse pollution from agricultural and forestry run-off; while allowing further foot-dragging from Uisce Eireann on overdue wastewater upgrades urgently needed to stop the worst sewage pollution. Furthermore, the plan failed to adequately identify and address the considerable pressures we have on our coastal waters.
“However, that said, there are positives that we very much welcome in the plan, many of which were called for in SWAN campaigning and through our engagements with Minister Noonan and the Department. The review of the Arterial Drainage Act, which for many years SWAN and others have been calling for is a significant and important addition to the final plan. Physical alterations to rivers channels and adjoining land, mainly dredging, deepening and drainage are the second biggest threat to their ecological health and in large parts of the country this is mandated by this outdated Act. Reviewing and reforming it will be critical to restoring thousands of km of rivers back to good health. Also, the commitment to the development of Catchment Management Plans and the involvement of local communities is a positive step forward.”
Furthermore, we welcome the Minister’s commitment to a review of the Plan’s programme of actions. It is vital that this goes ahead as promised next year and critically that it bridges the significant shortfall in the plan which sees a paltry 10-20% of our polluted and damaged waters restored to health by 2027. To do this, far stronger measures will be needed. These must include risk-based catchment level measures for agriculture and forestry, more urgent investment to halt sewage pollution, and stronger measures for the specific pressures on our coasts, such as fish-farming. SWAN will be calling for these measures to be introduced as soon as possible.”
“The Plan relies heavily on ‘Sectoral Action Plans’, which are to be developed for the key sectors, including agriculture, forestry and wastewater. To be effective, these must contain whatever additional measures are needed to specifically target known impacts in catchments, e.g. intensive livestock agriculture in catchments vulnerable to run-off, as opposed to a recycled list of existing general and national-level initiatives, and policies the sector already has in place.”
[1] Water Action Plan 2024 – A River Basin Management Plan for Ireland (p33 – Table 7) https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/303156/b0c6512b-2579-4296-9abe-ffdb1ddd6157.pdf#page=nulle/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/294556/8d6858e0-8ad4-4e87-bc0b-40ee9f219a2c.pdf#page=null
[2] Water Action Plan 2024 – A River Basin Management Plan for Ireland (p23 – Figure 13) https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/303156/b0c6512b-2579-4296-9abe-ffdb1ddd6157.pdf#page=nulle/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/294556/8d6858e0-8ad4-4e87-bc0b-40ee9f219a2c.pdf#page=null
[3] Water Action Plan 2024 – A River Basin Management Plan for Ireland p33 – Table 7 https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/303156/b0c6512b-2579-4296-9abe-ffdb1ddd6157.pdf#page=nulle/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/294556/8d6858e0-8ad4-4e87-bc0b-40ee9f219a2c.pdf#page=null