Outcome of characterisation process

to date Jenny Deakin

on behalf of the Catchment Science and Management Unit With assistance from EPA colleagues and RPS consultants

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

1987-1990

2010-2012

1995-1997

1998-2000

2021

Expenditure 2000-2014 € billion

Context: River Water Quality, past, now, future?

Urban Waste Water

REPS Water

Farm Buildings

0 1 2 3 4 5

Slide source: Pat Duggan

2015

?

?

2027 % ri

ver c

hann

el le

ngth

at s

atis

fact

ory s

tatu

s

?

€8bn for 5% improvement. Needs a new approach Challenging in the context of FH2020/Food Wise2025 strategies,

increasing population and implications of climate change.

Status update 2010-15

Rivers Lakes Estuaries Coastal Groundwater

Changes in status during the last plan

Improvements were offset by deterioration What can we learn from this?

Significant loss of high status sites

1987 2015

How do we fix it?

What is causing it, where, and

why?

Is there a problem?

Must be evidence based All recorded in the WFD Application

What is characterisation?

Nested scales

5000 • Waterbodies

583 • Subcatchments

46 • Catchments

1 • River basin management

plan

Characterisation approach

Aiming for ‘The right measure in the right place’

Monitoring Status

For every waterbody…

Risk assessment outcomes

Approximately one third (1360) of all waterbodies are At Risk of not achieving WFD objectives and need additional action

Risk

P is the most significant WQ issue

Issues Possible pressures P – eutrophication (rivers/lakes) N – eutrophication (saline)

Agriculture, WWTPs, DWWTSs, Urban areas, Forestry, Industry

Ammonium Peat extraction, WWTPs Fine sediment Channel maintenance, forestry,

agriculture Channel modification Channel maintenance, drainage

works Industrial pollutants Landfills, industry

But we need the significant pressures for each water body

Significant issue

How do we know what the significant pressures are?

1. Evidenced-based assessment process, waterbody by waterbody, using the source-pathway-receptor approach

Significant pressures

Aquifers Subsoils Vulnerability Soils

LPIS data Small point sources

Large point sources Forestry

Source: DAFM Source: DAFM Source: EPA Source: EPA

Source: GSI Source: Teagasc Source: GSI Source: Teagasc

Pathway

Source

Receptor To make improvements, need to break the links. Need to find the significant pressures

140 datasets >25 person years, not incl help! All recorded in the WFD App

How do we know what the significant pressures are?

1. Evidenced-based assessment process, waterbody by waterbody, using the source-pathway-receptor approach

2. New nutrient modelling tools Source Load Apportionment Model Load reduction calculations, and stream profiles Pollution Impact Potential Maps for diffuse agriculture TraCs team estuary models, GW load models

3. Local knowledge from EPA colleagues 4. Workshops and discussions with Local authorities and

Inland Fisheries Ireland, incorporating their local data and knowledge

More than one pressure may be significant Investigative assessments: ‘right measure in the right place’

Significant pressures

Significant Pressures in At-Risk rivers and lakes

Significant pressures

Where are the significant pressures for rivers and lakes? (Estuaries to be completed)

Significant pressures

How do we select the right measure?

We now have a better understanding for every waterbody: What the water quality problems are and why. Where to focus in to carry out field scale investigative assessments to find

the right measure and get it implemented. What the physical characteristics are, as a basis for determining ‘the right measure in the right place’.

This evidence base will support work from both an

environmental and development perspective. It highlights the need to target and prioritise management and mitigation

efforts. Achieving multiple benefits will be important

Measures

The story of the Ballinglen River

Photo: Inland Fisheries Ireland

Risk

Ballinglen River, North Mayo – At Risk

Significant issue Ballinglen River - Status

Significant issue Ballinglen River – Chemistry trends

Ballinglen River – Pressures and impacts Significant pressures

Ballinglen actions (1 of 4) Measures

What next in 2017…?

Complete characterisation assessments for groundwater, estuaries, coastal waters and protected areas by mid 2017.

Provide the evidence base to help stakeholders prioritise areas for action

Provide an assessment of what the prioritised actions may achieve in terms of improvements, i.e. environmental objectives

Make the information available via catchments.ie