Module 3: Water Quality
Unit 1: Current Status
Algal Bloom on a lake
shoreline
Algal Bloom on a lake
shoreline
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Our Responsibility
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Objectives of this presentation

To look at the extent to which Ireland’s surface waters
are less than ‘good status’

To examine the timescale within which serious
deterioration has occurred

To consider evidence of recent recovery in water quality
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The current status of water bodies
RBD plans use a five-tier ranking system to classify
surface water quality
 High, Good, Moderate, Poor and Bad status
Ecological classification combined three factors:
 Biology
 Supporting water condition (general conditions and
specific pollutants)
 Supporting hydrology and morphology (physical
condition)
“One out and out” principle
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Lake Water Status: The National Picture (2008)
350
Number of
Water
Bodies
327
300
265
250
219
200
150
100
50
21
11
Ba
d
Po
or
M
od
er
at
e
G
oo
d
H
ig
h
0
Lake Water Status
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River/canals Water Status: The National Picture
(2008)
1598
1600
Number
of Water
Bodies
1562
1400
1200
1000
751
800
600
485
400
200
68
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Ba
d
Po
or
M
od
er
at
e
G
oo
d
Hi
gh
0
River Water Status
The North West and Neagh Bann River Basin
Districts
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River/canal water interim status in the North
Western District
(2008)
342
350
Number
of Water
Bodies
283
300
250
12
12
10
8
200
165
6
150
4
River Water Status
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0
1
0
1
Ba
d
d
Ba
or
at
er
M
od
Po
e
d
oo
G
Hi
gh
0
2
2
Po
or
10
M
od
er
at
e
50
G
oo
d
61
H
ig
h
100
Lake Water Status
River Water Status in the Neagh Bann District
Current Status (2008)
149
160
Number
of Water 12
Bodies
10
140
120
12
8
100
76
80
71
6
60
4
2
2
d
Ba
or
Po
d
Ba
or
Po
e
at
er
M
od
er
at
e
od
Go
Hi
gh
Hi
gh
0
0
od
1
1
M
0
0
d
20
1
oo
15
G
40
River Water Status
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Lake Water Status
River Interim Status For County Monaghan
(2008)
Number
of Water
Bodies
35
35
23
25
30
27
25
20
21
20
15
15
8
10
10
5
3
0
4
5
2
0
0
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d
Ba
or
Po
e
at
er
od
Go
Hi
od
M
River Water Status
gh
d
Ba
or
Po
Mo
de
ra
te
od
Go
Hi
gh
0
Lake Water Status
Changes to a typical lake since the 1970s
1970s catchment
Sedimentary Record:
 Increased phosphorous inputs
from catchment
 Increased algal production
 Increased organic matter
deposition
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Present day catchment
River Water Quality 1971 – 2007 – Case Study
Unpolluted
Slightly
polluted
Moderately
polluted
Seriously
polluted
1971
1981
1989
1993
2001
2007
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The good news – some improvements in water quality
have been measured since the mid 90s
Mountain Water- station 650
Dromore River- station 100
0.1
0.1
0.09
0.09
0.08
0.08
0.07
0.07
0.06
0.06
0.05
0.05
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07
06
-
05
20
04
-
20
01
-
03
0
00
River
phosphorus
levels (mg/lP)
20
91
-9
4
95
-9
7
98
-2
0
20 00
01
20 03
04
20 05
06
-0
7
0
0.01
-2
0
0.01
0.02
98
0.02
0.03
-9
7
0.03
0.04
95
0.04
Where we’re at!
Illegal
dumping
Hard Surface
Runoff/Car wash
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Contaminated
storm water
drain
Lawn grass dumped in
stream
Fungus in stream from
high strength organic
wastes
Discharge from site development
Poaching and run-off from
cattle feeding area
Effluent
following landspreading
Oil-spill incident
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Discussion/Exercise
Read and discuss the River Basin District
Management Plan for your area
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