Water quality in Ireland is not improving overall, according to a report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The report - 'Water Quality in 2023: An Indicators Reports' - said improvements are being seen in some rivers and lakes but they are being offset by declines elsewhere. The biggest issue affecting quality is nutrient pollution from agriculture and wastewater.
The EPA reports each year on water quality in Ireland's rivers, lakes, estuaries and ground water sources. In this latest publication there was no significant change in water quality in 2023.
The report said nitrogen pollution mainly due to intensive agricultural activities remains a significant issue in the east, southeast and south.
It found that phosphate levels, which are largely associated with poorly treated wastewater from sewage plants and agricultural run-off, can fluctuate annually but overall, there has been no significant change over recent years.
The report states that 27% of river sites and 35% of lakes (particularly in the north and northeast) have elevated phosphorus levels.
Director of the Environment Protection Agency's Office of Evidence and Assessment Dr Eimear Cotter has said that their assessment looked at water quality in rivers, lakes, estuaries, groundwaters and it found "no net improvement" since the previous survey.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, she said this was really disappointing.
"We do see some improvements in some areas, but these are being offset or eroded by declines elsewhere, so overall no net improvement and that that is really disappointing."
Dr Cotter said "clean water is absolutely essential to everything we do, from our health, our well-being, our rivers, our lakes, our source of our drinking water.
"From an economic perspective, clean water is essential for farming, the tourism sector and also in terms of supporting healthy, thriving ecosystems.
"So, having clean water is not an optional extra it's not something and that's nice to have. It is absolutely a vital public good and we need to do everything we can to protect what we have and then drive on with further improvements in water quality".
She explained that the main issue with water quality is nutrient levels that are too high.
"So, nitrate phosphorus levels that are too high in our waters and when those nutrients are too high, it leads to issues with water quality.
"In terms of nitrates, nitrogen, we're seeing levels that are too high in the south and the southeast of the country and that's as a result of more intensively farmed land there, and we're also seeing phosphorus levels that are too high, just over 25% of our rivers. And those issues really prevalent for example, up in the border counties.
"And the source of that phosphorus, coming both from agriculture and from wastewater treatment. So, we're seeing different issues around the country. The issues are prevalent right around the country linked to agriculture and also to inadequately treated wastewater."
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In relation to agriculture, Dr Cotter said a lot is happening in the last year to 18 months in that sector.
"There's a lot of initiatives being launched just this year, but we haven't seen the results of those come through yet in terms of water quality.
"But there is a lot of work that can be done in terms of improving farm management practices. So, making sure whatever fertilisers are put out on land that it's actually used, that it's not wasted and that it's put out at the right time in the right place and the right quantities and also looking at compliance of existing regulations.
"And again, there's been an enhanced focus on ensuring the compliance of existing regulations and local authorities have the responsibility for that with an enhanced role for the EPA in terms of oversight of local authorities roles.
"So, there is more to be done there. We know that there is work that can be done in terms of looking at how nutrients are applied to land and looking at the compliance of existing regulations".
She said all the initiatives are building in terms of the focus on water quality from agriculture.
She said that these have been announced this year, so results won’t be seen yet.
"The results that we're publishing here today are from 2023, we haven't seen any improvement to date and certainly when you're looking at 2023, there hasn't been any improvement."
On wastewater treatment, she said it is a "significant pressure on about 200 water bodies around the country, so that is significant.
"That number has been coming down as a result of investment by Uisce Éireann and in our wastewater infrastructure, but it's still 200 water bodies is sizable, so that investment needs to continue.
"It needs to be targeted into those areas where there are water quality issues and make sure that plants are operated and maintained in a way that protects our environment.
"So progress has happened there but still more to do", she said.
The report concludes that any improvements in water quality are being offset, and at times exceeded, by declines elsewhere. It said average concentrations of nutrients appear to have stabilised nationally, but levels of nitrogen are still too high in 42% of river sites and 20% of groundwaters and levels of phosphorus are too high in 27% of river sites and 35% of lakes.
It said nutrient loss to water damages rivers lakes and ecosystems and, until nutrient levels reduce, there will not be an overall improvement in water quality to meet Ireland's water quality objectives.
The report's conclusion reiterates that the main source of nitrogen in waterways is agriculture, and the main source of phosphorus is agriculture and wastewater and these sectors must do more to reduce nutrient losses to water.
Ahead of the publication of the report, the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS ) said farmers are 100% committed to water quality and they are working with co-ops, processors, water quality advisors, experts and scientists to reduce any negative impact of agricultural activity on water quality.
Measures they are adopting include careful slurry management and reducing the amount of nitrogen fertiliser that is being spread on pastures.
ICOS president Edward Carr said: "It is demonstrably clear to see across the farming and co-operative sector that there is massive investment going on to protect water quality.
"The facts on this are unquestionable and this commitment will only increase in the years ahead. The ultimate success and reward to improved water can only be achieved if all stakeholders including farmers, local authorities and other industry sectors stay focused and work together."
Environmental NGO An Taisce said the report’s findings are worrying.
Head of Advocacy at An Taisce Elaine McGoff said: "The fact that agricultural nitrogen pollution didn't improve in the south and southeast of the country should come as no surprise to anyone.
"Despite all the rhetoric about saving our nitrates derogation and turning the tide on water quality in Ireland, there is no evidence of the necessary improvement in our waters."
She said farmers are jumping through several environmental hoops, but the measures they are being asked to put in place do not work for all pollutants and are largely inadequate for targeting nitrogen pollution.
"Until we fix that and put the right measures in the places that we need them then we’re only fooling ourselves if we think the water quality trends are going to dramatically improve. We need to take a science-based catchment approach," Ms McGoff said.
She added that it is "shocking that our wastewater treatment plants are still polluting our waterways in this day and age. It is critical that the Government take the necessary steps, and provide the necessary funding, to halt polluting wastewater discharges into all water bodies".
