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SWMI Update

SWMI Update. Public Authorities Forum – April 2007. 1. 1. SWMI – Water Matters!. Booklet layout Short Illustrated Joint north south Non-technical but informative Telling people what may be in the plan two years early Policy implications - requires buy-in from various agencies.

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SWMI Update

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  1. SWMI Update Public Authorities Forum – April 2007 1 1

  2. SWMI – Water Matters! • Booklet layout • Short • Illustrated • Joint north south • Non-technical but informative • Telling people what may be in the plan two years early • Policy implications - requires buy-in from various agencies

  3. Top & Tail • Water Matters • Our Goal • What We Would Like You To Do? • From Source To Sea • Some Basic Facts • Protecting Our Waters • Planning Our Actions • The Basin’s Waters • Our Most Sensitive Areas • Common Water Problems • The Causes Of Our Local Problems • Signposts to Topics • Think Again About Our Actions • What Happens Next? • How To Comment

  4. Municipal and Industrial Discharges

  5. Wastewater and industrial discharges • Background – • 540 sewerage systems serving populations of 500 – 1.7 million • 600 IPPC licenses granted by EPA • 1,090 discharge licenses to sewer & 1,120 to water granted by local authorities • €2.3 billion invested (NDP 2000-2006) meeting 90% of infrastructure needs • €2.5 billion estimated (NDP 2007-2013) • Impact on waters – • Inadequate treatment – organic load, nutrients and toxic substances • Pollution from urban wastewater – Serious (1%) – 60%; 33% P, 10% N • Protected areas (bathing and shellfish waters, protected habitats/wildlife)

  6. Wastewater and industrial discharges • Existing controls – • Urban wastewater – Urban wastewater treatment Regulations (1994-2004), Planning and development Act (2000), Foreshore Act (1933) • Industrial and commercial – IPPC Regulations (1994-2004) and Water Pollution Acts (1977, 1990) • Are existing controls adequate to meet WFD objectives ? – • UWWT– Controls focussed on infrastructure not operations. No prior authorisation system for Sanitary authorities. Monitoring inadequate in places. New water quality standards to be met • Industrial and commercial – prior authorisation in place, but new emission limits, including dangerous substances, need to be included in review of licence conditions to meet new water quality standards

  7. Wastewater and industrial discharges • What additional controls are proposed? • New regulations creating single national licensing system for the operation of urban wastewater installations and their discharges • Administered by EPA • Licences will set mandatory emission limits to achieve new water quality standards • Licences will set compulsory monitoring requirements • Review and revision of IPPC and Water Pollution discharge licences will be necessary to meet new water quality standards • Studies underway to; • Identify substances whch require monitoring and control in discharges • Technical guidance on setting Emission Limits • Electronic web-based reporting system • Stakeholders affected: Local authorities + industries discharging to sewer or water

  8. Other Point Sources

  9. Other point sources • Background – • 86 contaminated lands (industrial sites and gasworks) – EPA list • Waste disposal sites – 25 recorded illegal sites • 100 mines • 50 quarries • Incomplete knowledge about these sites • Impact on waters – • Potential leakage of contaminants – toxic substances such metals and fuel • Long term pollution of both groundwaters and surface waters • Protected areas (bathing and shellfish waters, protected habitats/wildlife)

  10. Other point sources • Existing controls – • Waste disposal sites - Waste management act – EPA licenses • Mines – mining lease/license - DCMNR, planning permission – Local authority, IPPC licenses – EPA • Quarries – Planning and development act registration with Local authority • Contaminated sites – Environmental protection agency and water pollution acts • Are existing controls adequate to meet WFD objectives ? – • Controls adequate • Enforcement actions are the challenge – eg recent actions to control illegal landfilling and cross border waste movement

  11. Other point sources • What additional controls are proposed? • Unregulated waste disposal sites – code of practice • Developed by EPA • Local authorities identifying and assessing sites • Quarries registration – best practice • Developed by EPA • Local authorities identifying and assessing sites • Contaminated sites – use of same best practice • Studies underway to; • Identify sites and threats • Design monitoring programmes • Stakeholders affected: Local authorities + industries commercial enterprises and landowners on whose land such activities have taken place

  12. Agriculture

  13. Agriculture • Background – • Two-thirds of Ireland’s land area - 90% grassland & 10% tillage • 6% of workforce • 2% of total added value • Beef, sheep and milk main exports – 1.3 lu/ha average stocking density • Intensification of farm systems, less farmers, larger herd sizes, intensive agricultural enterprises • Impact on waters – • Enrichment of waters – nutrients • Organic pollution – animal manure, silage and slurry • Also dangerous substances eg pesticides, oils • Pollution from agriculture – Serious (14%), Moderate (33%), Slight (35%) • Protected areas (bathing and shellfish waters, protected habitats/wildlife)

  14. Agriculture • Existing controls – • European reform – single farm payments / cross compliance – DoAg lead controls • Good agricultural practice regulations – Nitrates Action Plan (NAP) and mini catchment programmes • REPS • Grant schemes for manure management (storage and spreading) • Also Water Acts, Phosphorus Regulations (Bye-laws etc) – Local authority role • IPPC licenses – intensive agricultural enterprises – EPA role • Are existing controls adequate to meet WFD objectives ? – • Controls are adequate to protect most waters subject to enforcement

  15. Agriculture • What additional controls are proposed? • NAP will be reviewed in 2009 to ensure water quality improvements • Control and reporting of nutrient surplus (animal numbers, feedstuff and chemical fertilzers) • Observed reduction in animal numbers and fertilzer sales • Digestor schemes possible solution in intensive areas • Studies underway; • Representative mini-catchments • Monitoring effectiveness of national programme • Stakeholders affected: Agricultural sector – principally farmers

  16. Wastewater from Unsewered Properties

  17. Unsewered properties • Background – • 30% of the population are currently unsewered • 230 million litres of wastewater a day • Single dwellings, clusters of houses, commercial premises and light industries • One in five properties built since 1991 have septic tanks = 100,000 homes • Galway, Roscommon, Donegal and Monaghan are the counties with the highest rate of unsewered property development • One third of facilities inspected in Cavan in 2002 were defective • Impact on waters – • Water pollution – nutrients, chemicals and bacteria • If tanks and percolation systems are not working properly, surface and groundwater contamination • Protected areas (drinking waters, bathing and shellfish waters, protected habitats/wildlife)

  18. Unsewered properties • Existing controls – • Planning and development act supported by DEHLG best practice guidance and EPA guidance manuals • Water pollution acts and Bye-laws • Are existing controls adequate to meet WFD objectives ? – • Current guidance relates to single dwellings and additional guidance is needed for housing clusters

  19. Unsewered properties • What additional controls are proposed? • Updated guidance • Studies underway; • New developments to be sited were adequate conditions exist • New development restricted at inappropriate sites • Integration of plans • Site testing and design standards • Sites at high risk from existing systems will be identified • Consideration of main sewers and tank maintenance requirements in vulnerable areas • Monitoring systems • Stakeholders affected: Developers and property owners, industrial and commercial enterprises in unsewered areas

  20. Forestry

  21. Forestry • Background – • 10% of Ireland’s land area – to rise to 17% in next 30 years • Timber production – mainly sawlogs, stakes, wood chip • 77% coniferous • 57% state owned – managed by Coillte • Newer private forests - higher broadleaf proportions, more future felling • Impact on waters – • Acidification • Nutrient enrichment • Sedimentation • Flow pattern changes • Pesticide contamination • Protected areas (bathing and shellfish waters, protected habitats/wildlife)

  22. Forestry • Existing controls – • Forest Service – Sustainable Forest Management as supported by the Irish National Forest Standard, code of best forest practice and environmental guidelines • Forestry Act – control of felling • Are existing controls adequate to meet WFD objectives ? – • Current legislation and guidance may require further strengthening as research findings become available • For example – protection of sensitive species and clear felling licenses

  23. Forestry • What additional controls are proposed? • Implementation of more stringent actions established by scientific evaluation in sensitive areas • Studies underway; • Map sensitive areas • Updated codes and guidance including buffer zones, managing coup size, sediment control etc • Register of chemical usage • Monitoring programmes • Stakeholders affected: Forestry sector – public and private plantation + saw-milling and processing industries

  24. Urban Areas

  25. Urban Areas • Background – • Road run-off, combined sewer overflows, leaking sewers, fuel storage • Development pressure is causing more overloading of systems • Impact on waters – • Nutrient and dangerous substances from sewer spills and leakage • Metals and hydro-carbons from urban run-off • Pesticides from gardens and recreational areas • Protected areas (bathing and shellfish waters, protected habitats/wildlife)

  26. Urban Areas • Existing controls – • Includes WWTP, industry, waste management controls • EPA act and water pollution acts, Phosphorus and Dangerous Substance regulations – EPA and local authority roles • Example of specific controls - bye-laws introduced by Dublin City Council • Are existing controls adequate to meet WFD objectives ? – • Controls are adequate – more specific controls are required to focus on urban pressures

  27. Urban Areas • What additional controls are proposed? • Local authority discharge authorisation systems to be extended • Likewise revised industrial controls to meet new water quality standards • Studies underway; • Modelling 33 main urban areas • Predicting state of receiving waters • Identifying areas needing restoration measures • Developing best practice guidance • Monitoring programme for urban impacts • Stakeholders affected: Local authorities + industries

  28. Dangerous Substances

  29. Usage & discharge of dangerous substances • Background – • Used across all sectors of society • Households, medicines, industry, forestry, agriculture, small businesses, mines, construction sites, water treatment, run-off from roads and paved areas and engine exhausts • Increased usage • No complete register of these substances • Impact on waters – • Persistent, toxic and accumulating substances • Protected areas (bathing and shellfish waters, protected habitats/wildlife)

  30. Usage & discharge of dangerous substances • Existing controls – • Water quality standards • Monitoring programmes • Emission controls - IPPC licenses, EPER (European Pollution Emission Register), Sevesco Directive, Water Acts, Dangerous Substances & Phosphorus Regulations, Pesticides Authorisations, Aquaculture Licenses • Are existing controls adequate to meet WFD objectives ? – • New range of substances to be controlled, new method of calculating water standards – new water quality standards to be set • Licensing, authorization and monitoring systems require updating to address the new water standards • Periodic updates required

  31. Usage & discharge of dangerous substances • What additional controls are proposed? • New water quality regulations for WFD classification systems • Set by EPA • Monitoring programmes – EPA and MI • New regulation of WWTP, storm overflows • Review and revision of IPPC and Water Pollution discharge licences will also be necessary to meet new water quality standards • REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) • Review of authorised substances – PCS etc • Studies underway to; • Identify substances which require monitoring and control • Usage inventories • Risk assessment systems • Stakeholders affected: Local authorities + industries and commercial activities producing, using, handling, storing or discharging to sewer or water

  32. Physical Modifications

  33. Physical modifications • Background – • Water supply, navigation, shipping, flood protection, hydropower and land drainage • 95,000 culverts and bridges • 900 km of river flood embankments • 19 large reservoirs • 10 large ports • 200 km of coastal defences • Impact on waters – • Direct impact on habitat – drained rivers – loss of spawning habitat, physical barriers – obstacles to migration, hard structures – loss of habitat • Indirect impact on natural processes (flow or silt movements) – land drainage, over-grazing, cattle access, de-forestation • Protected areas (bathing and shellfish waters, protected habitats/wildlife)

  34. Physical modifications • Existing controls – • Statutory roles – OPW arterial drainage, DCMNR coastal defences • Planning and development act – Local authorities • Foreshore act & disposal of dredge spoil permits - DCMNR • Fishing and aquaculture – Marine Institute, Loughs Agency etc • Are existing controls adequate to meet WFD objectives ? – • No single comprehensive control system for surface water modifications • Registration and authorisation system is needed • New monitoring programmes required to identify impacts and sites requiring restoration

  35. Physical modifications • What additional controls are proposed? • New regulations for prior authorisation (licensing regime) or registration systems are being considered • Linkage to flood risk management plans under proposed Floods Directive • Studies underway to; • Identify key pressures • Design monitoring techniques • Provide guidance on construction techniques, SuDS, restoration schemes • Electronic decision support system for regulators • Stakeholders affected: Developers + operators proposing engineered modifications to surface waters

  36. Abstractions

  37. Abstractions • Background – • Household, agriculture, recreation, industry • 1.7 million cubic meters of water used per day • 85% of the population is supplied by public schemes • 550 surface schemes and 2,000 wells • Impact on waters – • Over abstraction – reduced flow rates and levels, saline instrusion • Protected areas (wetland protected habitats/wildlife)

  38. Abstractions • Existing controls – • Water supplies act • Water acts • Drinking water regulations • Nitrates regulations • Are existing controls adequate to meet WFD objectives ? – • Current controls require updating to achieve new water standards and protect dependant wildlife and habitats

  39. Abstractions • What additional controls are proposed? • New regulations for single national licensing or registration systems are being considered • License application • Consents based on water resource impact • Abstraction limits • Monitoring requirements • Studies underway to; • Identify amount of water abstracted • Calculate minimum water resources needs • Identify un-sustainable abstractions – projected to 2015 • Develop guidance and decision support tools for regulators • Stakeholders affected: Local authorities, industrial and commercial enterprises, the agricultural sector and developers proposing abstractions

  40. Local Issues • Alien species/biodiversity • Protection of sensitive areas • Shared waters issues • Pressure and climate changes

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