Shocking: River water quality declines by 28% in Tipperary over a 12-year period

Tipperary traditionally was seen as rural Ireland at its finest with rivers you could swim in and lakes you could sail in. The tourism surrounding river life is something that livelihoods depend upon from Lough Derg to Carrick-On-Suir but the reality laid bare by LAWPRO officials during a presentation at the recent Tipperary/Cahir/Cashel Municipal District meeting should set alarm bells off for those who enjoy river living, fishing, swimming or sailing.

The water quality across Tipperary has drastically fallen in recent years and the shocking extent of the pollution and decline in quality was revealed. The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) presentation made by Ruth Hennessy made clear that the quality of river water has drastically fallen in recent years with the colour of the water changing: “Unfortunately what we are seeing in Tipperary is an increase in the moderate and poor categories of water quality which is generally unsatisfactory,” she said while adding that it wasn’t “supporting the kind of life and biodiversity it needs to.

“Where we are at the moment in Tipperary, is that we have only got 33% of our rivers at satisfactory condition which is a significant decline from 61% about 12 years ago and again, it is worse than most of the rest of the country which is, on average, 52% of water quality.”

She told the startled Councillors that the river Ara and some of its tribituries are “all at moderate and poor status similiar to the river Suir coming down along from Thurles.”

Specialised staff across five regions - Border, Midlands and East, South East (which includes Tipperary), South West and West - and they coordinate efforts to achieve good quality water across rivers, lakes and coastal areas as required by the European Union Water Framework Directive.

In the Tipperary/Cahir/Cashel Municipal District, LAWPRO catchment scientists are currently working on the Ara, and Aherlow Priority Areas for Action and have identified areas for assessment over the coming years. Ruth Hennessy said to find solutions they will be “guided by the science and guided by our understanding of what the issues affecting water quality in those areas are.”

Speaking about the revelations, Councillor Marie Murphy stressed the decline in water quality was “the highest decline nationally” and said “wasterwater treatment plants, forestry and agriculture are impacting water quality in the Ara and Aherlow”.

She asked too if there were other reasons for the decline. Councillor Mairin McGrath said that “the lack of wasterwater treatment plants” is a huge issue. “In my own village of Newcastle we don’t have a wastewater treatment plant and are pumping raw sewage into the river!

“When we try to promote the Blueway and fishing or Kayaking or whatever it is, and then you also have raw sewage being pumped into the same water I just think when State agencies and State bodies like Uisce Eireann aren’t doing their job or doing their best to improve water quality it is very hard to sell that message but look I appreciate the work that you do,” she said.

Councillor Roger Kennedy said there were villages in Tipperary “which have no wastewater treatment at all. We need to dig down into what the situation is and identify it rather than just painting a broad bush with regard to the county,” he said. More details can be found on the LAWPRO website or via council offices.