Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 554: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to recent reports regarding the pollution of ground water throughout the country; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35569/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Statutory responsibility for the monitoring, management, protection and improvement of water quality, including groundwater, is assigned to local authorities, acting under the general supervision of the EPA. The EPA report, Water Quality in Ireland 2006 — Key Indicators of the Aquatic Environment, indicates in relation to groundwater that, in the period 1995 to 2006, there was a general decrease (from approximately 41% to 29%) in the number of groundwater samples showing bacteriological contamination (faecal coliforms), and a general increase (from approximately 15% to 19%) in the percentage of groundwater samples with nitrate concentrations of between 25-40 mg/l NO3. The greatest degree of groundwater pollution is found in karst limestone areas and in areas with more intensive agricultural activities. Measures for the protection and improvement of water quality continue to be progressed on a systematic basis, particularly within the context of the Water Framework Directive. I expect to see significant improvements in the quality of Irish waters over the coming years with consequent improvements in aquatic ecosystems and water-dependent terrestrial ecosystems. The EPA report also indicates that, with the type of pollution occurring in Ireland, chiefly nutrient enrichment, there is a relatively short recovery time for aquatic ecosystems.

The Water Framework Directive provides generally that there must be no deterioration in the status of any waters and that all waters should achieve at least "good status" by 2015. A comprehensive programme of activities is underway by my Department, the EPA, local authorities and other relevant bodies for full implementation of the Directive. This is being supported by river basin district projects, led by local authorities, together with a wide range of research and other projects. My Department has committed 100% funding, amounting to some €63 million, for most of these activities. INTERREG funding is also being applied in relation to cross-border projects. To date, all implementation deadlines set by the Directive have been achieved on time by Ireland. In June 2007, an overview report for each River Basin District outlined the significant water management issues that have been identified and the possible measures to be taken. These reports will assist the participation of interested parties in the development of draft River Basin Management Plans in 2008 which will set out the specific environmental objectives for the first 6-year plan period (2009-2015) and the programme of measures to deliver on these objectives. The plans will be formally adopted by June 2009.

My Department's Water Services Investment Programme (WSIP) and the Nitrates Action Programme are key contributors to improved water quality in line with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive. Some €2 billion has been invested since 2000 in new and upgraded waste water services under the WSIP. Significant funding is also being provided by my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under the Farm Waste Management Scheme to support investment by farmers to meet the requirements of the Nitrates Action Programme. Measures are also being developed to strengthen the protection of water quality against pollution from other sources. For example, Regulations were made in November 2006 and September 2007 in relation to the licensing of aerial fertilisation of forestry and discharges from local authority wastewater treatment plants. In 2007 the maximum penalties for water pollution offences under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts and the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations were significantly increased.

The Water Services Act 2007 contains provisions relating to a duty of care and compliance with requirements relating to septic tanks. Section 70 places a duty of care on the occupier of a premises or where the premises is unoccupied, the owner, to ensure that all drains, manholes and treatment systems, including a septic tank, serving the premises are kept in such a condition as not to cause a risk to human health or the environment or create a nuisance due to odours. This duty of care also requires the occupier or owner to notify the water services authority where any leak, accident or other incident occurs relating to discharges of sewage from the premises to a drain or treatment system, including a septic tank, where it is likely to cause a risk to human health or safety or the environment. Taken together these measures represent a comprehensive approach to protecting and improving our groundwater resources.