The characterisation process has identified that approximately one third of waterbodies are at risk of not achieving water quality objectives. Phosphorus pollution is the most significant water quality issue affecting rivers and lakes. Significant pressures were identified for each at-risk waterbody using evidence-based assessments considering sources, pathways and receptors. Agriculture, wastewater treatment plants, and urban areas were found to be the major sources of pressure. Characterisation of all waterbodies will be completed by mid-2017 to prioritize areas for action to improve water quality.

1. 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

2. 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
%riverchannellengthatsatisfactorystatus
?
€8bn for 5% improvement. Needs a new approach
Challenging in the context of FH2020/Food Wise2025 strategies,
increasing population and implications of climate change.

3. Status update 2010-15
Rivers
Lakes
Estuaries
Coastal
Groundwater

4. Changes in status during the last plan
Improvements were offset by deterioration
What can we learn from this?

5. Significant loss of high status sites
1987 2015

6. 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?

7. Nested scales
5000
• Waterbodies
583
• Subcatchments
46
• Catchments
1
• River basin management
plan

8. Characterisation approach
Aiming for ‘The right measure in the right place’
Monitoring
Status
For every waterbody…

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

10. 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

11. How do we know what the
significant pressures are?
1. Evidenced-basedassessment process, waterbody by
waterbody, using the source-pathway-receptorapproach
Significant
pressures

12. Aquifers Subsoils Vulnerability Soils
LPIS data
Small point
sources
Large point
sourcesForestrySource: 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

13. How do we know what the
significant pressures are?
1. Evidenced-basedassessment process, waterbody by
waterbody, using the source-pathway-receptorapproach
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 discussionswith Local authorities and
Inland FisheriesIreland, incorporating their local data and
knowledge
 More than one pressure may be significant
 Investigative assessments: ‘right measure in the right place’
Significant
pressures

14. Significant Pressures in At-
Risk rivers and lakes
Significant
pressures

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

16. 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

17. The story of the Ballinglen River
Photo: Inland Fisheries Ireland

18. Risk
Ballinglen River, North Mayo – At Risk

19. Significant
issue
Ballinglen River - Status

20. Significant
issue
Ballinglen River – Chemistry trends

21. Ballinglen River – Pressures and impacts
Significant
pressures

22. Ballinglen actions (1 of 4)
Measures

23. 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