Written answers

Tuesday, 24 March 2015

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Water Quality

Photo of Noel HarringtonNoel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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903. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the 2010 regulations issued by his Department on the protection of groundwater sources have been implemented on Cape Clear Island, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11822/15]

Photo of Noel HarringtonNoel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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904. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government regarding the 2010 regulations issued by his Department on the protection of groundwaters, if the entire island of Cape Clear, County Cork, is being treated by Cork County Council as if it were a groundwater protection area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11823/15]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 903 and 904 together.

The implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive requires the extensive monitoring of groundwater quality and the inclusion of programmes of measures in each river basin management plan to ensure continuing improvement in the quality of groundwater. In transposing the Directive, the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations 2010, as amended, give legal effect to measures for the protection of groundwater.

Local Authorities are charged with the protection of water quality, including groundwater quality, within their remit. The protection of drinking water sources, however, is a matter for Irish Water.

In relation to the protection of groundwater, the Water Framework Directive classification assessments have identified that the main pressures impacting on groundwater quality include the input of nutrients from diffuse sources and, to a lesser degree, historical pollution from industrial activities. Local pollution is considered to be caused primarily by farming activities and the inputs from domestic wastewater treatment systems.  Pollution from agricultural sources has been targeted through significant investment by farmers and the State under the Farm Waste Management Scheme and by the implementation of the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014, as amended. Pollution from domestic waste water systems is being addressed by the requirements of the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012.

The Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007 - 2010 provide for an authorisation system for all wastewater discharges to waters from treatment plants or collection systems owned or controlled by local authorities. The purpose of the authorisation system is to prevent and reduce pollution of waters by waste water discharges. As part of the authorisation process, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can place conditions on the operation of individual plants and systems and it can set emission limit values for the discharges.  In December 2011, the EPA published guidance on the technical assessments that are needed to authorise discharges to groundwater, as a means of satisfying the requirements of the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations 2010, as amended. 

In relation to Cape Clear Island, I am advised by Cork County Council that a ground water protection scheme has been in place for the entire county (including Cape Clear Island) since 2013.

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