Action urged to save rivers, lakes

THE serious reservations about the level of phosphorous occurring in west of Ireland freshwater coincides with a call from Greenpeace, the environmental group, for a ban on phosphate rich detergents being allowed to run into water courses. Greenpeace is particularly concerned that phosphates have contributed to the decline of the River Shannon basin".

The Mayo based Carra/Mask Angling Federation has made a formal complaint to the European Commission on discharges. While it welcomed the acceptance by the authorities, including the Department of Agriculture and Teagasc, that problems had arisen, it was concerned at their failure to address these immediately. This delay was due to the "serious implications for agriculture", according to a federation spokesman, Mr Tony Waldron.

"We are pleased that the [European] Commission, too, is beginning to recognise that some policies formulated with the best of intentions have impacted adversely on our water resources, Mr Waldron said. "Because of the interest they are now showing on the issue, we hope that will help find a resolution."

He expressed concern at the conclusion of the committee that all Irish salmonid lakes and rivers were now under threat from phosphorous.

Mr Waldron conceded that the Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin, had recognised that the greatest pollution threat was enrichment arising from an increase in nutrient outputs, mainly phosphorous deriving from fertiliser and slurry. In Lough Conn, the equivalent of 35 tonnes of phosphorous a year was having an adverse impact on this valuable resource. Over 80 per cent of this was attributable to run off from lands as a consequence of farming practices within the lake's catchment.

The Government recently expressed concern about high nitrate levels in waters resulting from agricultural and domestic sources, which has serious implications for drinking water, and it is understood to be considering introducing new guidelines on this. "Guidelines at this stage are not good enough. In any event, we believe the phosphorous threat represents a greater overall danger to waters," Mr Waldron said.

He claimed that modern farming practices led to a build up of the equivalent of 40,000 tonnes of phosphorous every year in Irish soils, much of which was leeching into waters. "Farming implications side, definite and immediate action has to be taken to protect our rivers and lakes in the national interest," he added.