Agriculture and Water Pollution

Fertilisers

Microbial contamination continues to be an area of concern for public health. This issue tend s to arise through poor farm management practices that allow for livestock manure to enter the water system. This threat can be further exacerbated by extreme weather events.

The Nitrates Directive which has been in place since 1991 aims to protect water sources from agriculturally sourced pollutants as well as promote safe farming practices (DHPLG, 2019). Ireland was obliged to produce a National Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) that takes measures for the management of fertiliser application, including livestock manure. Ireland's fourth NAP 2018 - 2021 was implemented in 2017. It aims to improve water quality through its protection and to prevent surface water pollution and groundwater pollution from agricultural sources. a number of strengthened water protection measures for more efficient use of fertilisers and prevention of fertiliser contamination were introduced in the programme. For further information please visit the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government website.

In 2018 Ireland was granted renewal of the Nitrate derogation from the EU, that allowed farmers in intensive industries to obtain higher stocking rates of livestock manure, which refers to nitrogen (N) loading. This renewal was however met with new conditions set out by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine through the Nitrates Directive that required 50% of slurry in derogation farm to be applied before June 15th. After this date slurry can only be applied by Low Emission Slurry Spreading. Although stringent measures have been put in place intensive agriculture has come at a cost with the EPA indicating that agriculture accounted for 53% of pollution in our rivers  and water sources adjacent to intensive agriculture area directly correlate with the worst water quality monitoring results. Teagasc has launched an online nutrient-management planning system to further support good nutrient management across Ireland. The usage of this system will be mandatory for Glas and Derogation farmers , which account for 60, 000 farmers nationally, as stated under one of the principal actions in the recent River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018 - 2021 

Pesticide Spraying Practices on Farms
Courtesy Irish Water ©

Pesticides

In recent years, pesticides have become more commonly detected in Ireland's drinking water monitoring results. Exceedances of pesticides in drinking water have been found across certain counties this year. It is the second year running where the pesticide MCPA has exceeded Irish drinking water supplies. This is a commonly used pesticide that is applied for agricultural grassland management. One drop of this pesticide can breach up to 30 kilometres of drinking water (Irish Water, 2018).  Glyphosate which is used mainly for the control of broad-based leaves is another main offender that has breached drinking water supplies over the last few years. This pesticide can be found in a number of weed killer formulations and is used by gardeners as well as  growers (Irish Water, 2019).

Irish Water is partnering with the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group (NPDWAG) in appealing to farmers that best practice measures for safe drinking water quality should always be followed when applying pesticides to their land. The NPDWAG, which is chaired by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are coordinating efforts with other stakeholders (i.e. other government departments, local authorities, farming organisations etc.) to reduce the incidence of pesticide detections. 

Water Quality Schemes

The Green Lower Carbon Agri - Environment Scheme (GLAS)

GLAS promotes practices to preserve Ireland biodiversity and addresses the issues of climate change mitigation and water quality. The scheme is targeted at farmers to improve their agricultural practices. It is a voluntary scheme were farmers receive advice and payment for delivering on actions. To date the scheme has achieved the protection of over 150,000 km watercourses. Glas actions enhance the sustainability and production efficiency of farms while delivering environmental dividends that address water quality and other crucial factors. For more information on this scheme and its supports please visit the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine website.

The Agricultural Catchment programme

The Agriculture Catchment Programme also promotes better water quality, through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine by providing technical advice to farmers to make improved decisions on their management of nutrient applications, which is likely to be the biggest contributing factor to the improvement of water quality on Irish farms.