Water Pollution Control
The Water Services Department fulfils their statutory requirements to implement EU Directives and National Regulations under a number of monitoring programmes.
Dangerous Substances Monitoring Programme
A monitoring programme to establish the levels of Dangerous Substances in Fingal’s Rivers began in 2002. Monitoring is carried out on a quarterly basis on thirteen rivers and three estuaries, at forty-five different locations in total. Baseline data and data resulting from on-going monitoring show Fingal’s rivers to be in good condition in relation to the presence or absence of Dangerous Substances. Fingal submitted a Measures Report to the E.P.A in July 2006 outlining measures to be implemented in relation to the Dangerous Substances Regulations. Monitoring for these Regulations is carried out in conjunction with monitoring under the Water Framework Directive(WFD).
Water Framework Directive – Operational Monitoring Programme
Fingal County Council is participating in the Eastern River Basin District Management Project established to implement the WFD along with twelve other Local Authorities in the east of the country. Dublin City Council is the co-ordinating authority.
Fingal County Council established the WFD Operational Monitoring Programme in 2007. Monitoring is carried out quarterly at 15 sample points throughout Fingal. The data gathered enables the Council to identify areas that are experiencing problems with water and to carry out investigations to remedy these problems.
EU Shellfish Waters Directive (2006/113/EC)
Consultation on the Draft Pollution Reduction Programmes and Strategic Environmental Assessment relating to Water Bodies, designated for protection or improvment under the EU Shellfish Waters Directive (2006/113/EC) in Counties Louth and Fingal
The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the competent authority under the EU Shellfish Directive, invites written submissions or observations from interested parties concerning the draft Characterisation Reports, Pollution Reduction Programmes and Strategic Environmental Assessment relating to the following designated Shellfish Waters, which are designated for protection or improvement under the above Directive:
• Carlingford Lough Characterisation Report
• Carlingford Lough PRP
• Dundalk Bay Characterisation Report
• Dundalk Bay PRP
• Balbriggan - Skerries Characterisation Report
• Balbriggan - Skerries PRP
• Malahide Characterisation Report
• Malahide PRP
• Shellfish SEA for Louth - Fingal
The aim of the Shellfish Waters Directive is to protect or improve shellfish waters in order to support shellfish life and growth. It is designed to protect the aquatic habitat of bivalve and gastropod molluscs, which include oysters, mussels, cockles, scallops and clams. The Directive requires Member States to designate waters that need protection in order to support shellfish life and growth and to put in place Pollution Reduction Programmes, which establish a programme of measures to reduce pollution pressures in each designated area. The Directive sets physical, chemical and microbiological water quality requirements, some of which are mandatory while others are ‘guideline’ standard.
In compliance with Article 9(1) of S.I 435 of 2004, a Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) of the Draft Pollution Reduction Programmes for the listed designated shellfish is being carried out on behalf of the competent authority. An Environmental Report has been prepared which assesses, at a strategic level, the likely significant environmental impacts of implementing the draft Pollution Reduction Programmes for the designated shellfish areas listed above.
A copy of the draft Pollution Reduction Programmes and associated Environmental Report is published on Fingal County Council’s website: www.fingalcoco.ie and can be inspected in the Fingal Area at the following locations during normal opening hours:
Fingal County Council, County Hall, Swords, Co. Dublin: Hardcopy available for inspection.
Fingal County Council, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15: Hardcopy available for inspection.
The reports will also be available to view electronically in all Fingal County Council Library Branches.
Comments should be submitted by email or by post to:
Philip Donovan
Marine Environment Unit
Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Johnstown Castle Estate
Co Wexford
email: philip.donovan@environ.ie
These submissions / observations will be taken into consideration before the finalisation of the Plan.
Closing date for receipt of submissions is 10th December 2009
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