Alarming deterioration of water quality in Tipperary over a 12 -year period

The water quality in Tipperary is dropping fast. In fact the water quality has dropped by 46% in twelve years. A LAWPRO Directorate Report was presented at this weeks Tipperary/Cahir/Cashel Municipal District meeting where the glaring statistic was raised before councillors. 

The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) is working to identify the issues affecting water quality in every county in Ireland. Where issues are identified, they collaborate with the relevant local authority, public body, and water stakeholder to find a solution.

In Tipperary in recent times the river Anner “turned chocolate brown” and the water quality in the county was described as the worst in the south east.  Multiple factors were blamed for the chronic pollution in rivers in Tipperary including intensive agriculture, forestry, urban waste water as well as contaminants from petrol and diesel that flow from the road in heavy rain. Constant boil notices have been issued across Tipperary in recent weeks.

 Councillor Mairin McGrath said that the percentage drop in water quality was startling: “My biggest concern is about Uisce Eireann and the lack of capacity in our wastewater treatment plants. I know you referred to Newcastle and Golden and they are two thriving little villages on the banks of the river Suir and Uisce Eireann are responsible for allowing raw sewerage to go into our rivers,” she said.

Councillor Michael Fitzgerald said he didn't know where to start such was the seriousness of the issues at hand. He said  that he attended a seminar where the “top brass of Irish Water were in attendance and it was quite clear from their presentations that they have no interest in small villages and the development thereof.

“You showed a slide there of the river Anner and the colour of the water, we have that constantly in Golden when there is heavy rain and the water comes down for a day but we have a worse problem. We have a pipe going straight into the river. We put bollards out where the pipe goes into the river.

“It is a disgrace and a shame that this is happening,” he said before pointing out that he has been raising this for many years but there is no improvement.  Councillor Andy Moloney too was worried and said climate change is an issue with flooding getting worse and causing HSE boiled water notices in many places:

“The Galtee supply, the Burncourt supply and the Ardfinnan supply - which is still on a boiled water notice- is all to do with run off from the mountains.” Councillors agreed that the presentation was hugely informative. Details on water quality can be found at the website https://lawaters.ie/