Latest news with #EUWaterFrameworkDirective
Agriland
6 days ago
- Science
- Agriland
Project Reveals Impact on Rivers of Long Term Peatland Drainage
The UCD study for EPA focuses on the quality of streams in the midlands. A project has revealed how long-term peatland drainage for extraction and other land uses has negatively impacted Ireland's rivers and streams. The project, Strategies to Improve Water Quality from Managed Peatlands (SWAMP), was prepared by University College Dublin (UCD) for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It aimed to address key knowledge gaps about water quality degradation in Ireland's peatland areas. This study presented a snapshot of the quality of streams in the Irish midlands, a region known for its historical expanse of raised bogs, most of which have been affected by peat extraction. Water quality degradation has been caused by "decades of drainage for industrial and domestic peat extraction", according to the researchers. Drained peatlands have leached harmful nutrients, acids, and carbon-rich water into streams, the research found. According to the report: "The research identified some protected peatlands that also had poor water chemistry, highlighting the widespread legacy effects of drainage. "Aquatic biota in degraded bogs showed reduced biodiversity, although downstream effects were linked to upstream water quality, not bog status alone, underscoring the need for site-specific ecological indices to assess peatland restoration projects. "While sedimentation ponds at the edge of a cutaway bog removed suspended solids, this approach failed to treat dissolved pollutants, with seasonal acidity and nutrient surges further violating ecological standards. "Edge-of-field treatments with biochar showed inconclusive results, warranting further study." The researchers said that the full impacts of continued peat extraction must be acknowledged and properly assessed ahead of proposed land use, energy, and horticultural projects that all require drainage. "If licensing activities are sought for continued peat extraction in Ireland, stricter regulations and associated monitoring must be implemented, updating licence thresholds to reflect regional needs," the report said. This research focused on identifying pollution hotspots, measuring the effects of peat soil drainage on water chemistry and aquatic biodiversity, assessing pollution prevention measures, and developing better hydrological models to predict the response of peatlands to drainage and restoration. "The SWAMP project's findings arrive at a critical time, as Ireland needs to address the specific challenges of achieving compliance with the EU Water Framework Directive and delivering on the Nature Restoration Law," according to the researchers. "Reversing centuries of unsustainable peatland management and the declining trend in water quality in streams in the midlands will require considerable effort from all stakeholders. "It will require the coordination of multiple agencies to expand the monitoring of peatlands both in space and time and in particular to include water quality indicators at site and regional levels." The report outlines how Ireland's water quality "continues to decline, driven partially by peatland drainage for agriculture, forestry and industrial extraction". "These disturbances alter peatland hydrology and biogeochemistry, exacerbating downstream pollution, flood risks and carbon/nutrient losses – pressures that are all intensified by climate change." The report outlines how tackling the pollution recorded in bog streams at specific sites will be largely addressed by rewetting and rehabilitation projects within existing drained bogs, and stricter legal requirements for the treatment of effluents associated with peat extraction activities. There is a need for "tailored, site-specific" approaches rather than a "one-size-fits-all", the report said. "Success hinges on interdisciplinary collaboration to address compounding pressures, from legacy drainage impacts to climate change," the researchers added. The Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022–2027 indicates that 106 surface waters are currently impacted by peat extraction and drainage, the report notes. "This situation prevents Ireland from fully complying with the EU Water Framework Directive," according to the new report. "It is critical to understand the pressures on waters arising from degraded peatlands. "Appropriate regulatory measures and innovative technologies must be developed to ensure that the status of water bodies is protected, maintained and improved in line with the requirements of national and international environmental standards." The final recommendations of the SWAMP project include that immediate actions are needed to "target nitrogen pollution hotspots with effective treatment solutions and stricter effluent regulations". Long-term strategies are also key, to "prioritise large-scale rewetting of drained peat soils, coupled with long-term monitoring to track recovery". The project has also highlighted research gaps, and the need to "develop standardised peatland models, improve biogeochemical process representation and refine ecological assessment tools". "Reversing water quality declines in the midlands will require decades of coordinated restoration and rewetting of degraded peatlands," the researchers said. "The SWAMP project's integrated findings underscore the need for adaptive, multidisciplinary management – supported by flexible funding – to address peatland-specific complexities amid climate change." The report recommends stricter water quality controls to be included and regulated as part of the licensing of peat extraction activities. "The water protection methods must be clearly validated at each specific environmental location in combination with specific regional objectives," the report states. "The monitoring of data must also take cognisance of seasonal effects and additional site-specific factors, which may influence 'key' nutrient species. "In addition, action must be taken to address water pollution from the activities of unlicensed small private peat companies, as well as from bogs affected by domestic turf-cutting, which impact an even greater land surface area." It is also recommended that large-scale rewetting of extracted bogs must be accompanied by long-term monitoring of the chemistry of the bog water and receiving streams. "Reducing pollution from drained bogs will be largely addressed by restoration and rehabilitation projects that affect not only Bord na Móna bogs but also privately-owned bogs within a catchment." Revised mitigation measures to treat effluent waters from not only extracted bogs, but also all sites that include drainage of peat soils (land use change, wind farms) must be implemented, the researchers have recommended. The report states that "rewetting of all peat-extracted sites is necessary to reduce the high nitrogen and carbon losses in freshwaters". "Our results suggest that more efficient and varied treatment processes are needed to help improve and future-proof water quality from peaty catchments."
Irish Examiner
16-07-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Farmers see Moorepark's blueprint for cleaner water in action at open day
With Ireland's dairy industry depending heavily on water quality improvements in order to secure a nitrates derogation beyond this year, one of the country's best-known dairy farms is doing its bit. The Teagasc farm at Moorepark, Fermoy, Co Cork, was visited by dairy farmers from all over Ireland at the recent open day, and they heard about the farm's water quality challenge, and what is being done about it (the farm is also restricted due to a bovine TB outbreak, so visitors got a dose of farming reality on the double). The farm is in a catchment of the Funshion river, which rises in the Galtee Mountains at Kilbeheny, and flows southward, then westward, before flowing southeast through Glanworth and draining into the Munster Blackwater about 3.5km downriver of Fermoy. It passes through the Moorepark farm. The Funshion catchment on each side of the motorway in north Cork has four Environmental Protection Agency water quality monitoring stations. Their results show the area's "moderate" ecological status, and average nitrate concentrations of 3.5 to 4mg/l, exceeding the estuarine standard of 2.6mg/L. Teagasc has also been measuring nitrate leaching from pastures, using ceramic cups at the root zone level about a metre below the soil surface. The figures were higher at Moorepark (8.34 to 11.03) and at Teagasc's Curtins farm, Fermoy (6.2 to 9.55), compared to the farm at Teagasc's Clonakilty Agricultural College (2.35 to 4.89). Water quality improvements are needed in the Funshion area to achieve the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive (and as part of the water quality improvement needed to secure Ireland's nitrates derogation). Under the guidance of the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme advisers, several measures in the Better Farming for Water Campaign and the Farming for Water EIP have been, or will be implemented, in Moorepark. These measures include a rainwater management plan, which is a basic feature of the Farming for Water EIP. It is a detailed evaluation and mapping of water flow in the farmyard and the surrounding land. Another Farming for Water basic, nitrogen surplus reduction, is being carried out by improving soil fertility, optimising fertiliser application and timing, and using white and red clover swards to replace chemical fertiliser, and plantain in swards to reduce nitrate leaching. Precision nitrogen spreading is also used. Other Farming for Water measures at Moorepark are tree-planting along waterways, water bars (on farm roadways to divert run-off away from rivers and streams), sediment traps, willow filter beds, and a farmyard settlement tank (a two-chamber tank to help filter and "polish" water before it reaches the drainage network). About 8km of native hedgerows have been established on the Moorepark farm, helping to reduce overland flow, and supporting biodiversity. In 2023, three hectares of native woodland and undisturbed water setback were established to prevent excess nutrients and sediment from entering the Funshion River. This will also stabilise the riverbank, while increasing the carbon sequestration potential and biodiversity. Additional farmyard measures being explored include sand filters and constructed wetlands to treat dairy soiled water, and willow filter beds to mitigate water coming from lightly trafficked yards. The work at Moorepark mirrors national actions on water quality, which have contributed to the 10% reduction in nitrate concentration in rivers in most regions last year, as recently reported by the EPA. More than 3,600 farmers have applied for support under the five-year Farming for Water EIP, which commenced last year, with €50m ringfenced for payments to up to 15,000 farmers. Meanwhile, 50 Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme advisers provide free, confidential water quality advice and support to farmers, in addition to Teagasc's Better Farming for Water advisory campaign. Grant aid for low-emission slurry spreading equipment and manure storage has been increased to 60%, combined with a separate investment threshold of €90,000. Since 2015, more than €138m has been paid to farmers supporting their investments in manure storage and low-emission slurry spreading. Read More Teagasc confirms rebounds in farm incomes for all sectors last year
Irish Independent
15-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Water quality of Wexford's rivers discussed at special meeting – ‘We can do a lot better'
Representatives from the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) provided an update on the work they are carrying out under the Water Action Plan which is part of the EU Water Framework Directive. There was also information on new farming initiatives, including the €60 million Farming for WaterEIP, Tiran's Slaney Farming for Water and the Teagasc Better Farming for Water initiative. Chaired by Frank Burke, Climate Action Coordinator with WCC, the meeting featured a presentation from Eoin Kinsella, executive scientist with WCC, who outlined the work being carried out by his team, from agricultural inspections to managing litter on the blue flag beaches. Discussing the Bann catchment area, Dr Fran Igoe of LAWPRO said: 'The glass is only half full when it comes to water quality in Wexford and we can do a lot better. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that the River Bann is a significant contributor of nitrates to the Slaney, and that combined with the other tributaries amounts to high nitrate loading to the Slaney. "This needs to be addressed as EPA monitoring shows there is an excessive nitrate impact on the estuary and Wexford Harbour. Clean water is important for Wexford's tourism, shellfish production and maintaining the health of the River Slaney generally. Most of the River Bann is also important for salmon and trout spawning and the water quality needs improvement.' Tirlán chairperson John Murphy spoke about its commitment as a dairy processor to improving water quality in the area with their Slaney Farming for Water Project, which aims to encourage farmers to install measures funded through the Farming for WaterEIP and Tiran's own suitability programme. Cathy Lee of the Friends of the Ahare River Biodiversity and Development Group, provided examples of the activities the group have carried out in the area, including biodiversity signage along the river, school visits to the river and family fun days at the Cloon beach. Ross Finlay project officer with the Slaney Rivers Trust spoke about its objective to improve salmon stocks in the Slaney and plans for further community engagement. The Slaney Rivers Trust is working with Inland Fisheries Ireland on the new barrier removal programme.
