The latest report on the quality of water in the Shannon suggests that as much as 35 per cent of the waterway may be significantly polluted.
The report, drawn up by consultants Kirk McClure Morton for local authorities and the European Union, was made public at Glasson on the shores of Lough Ree, Co Westmeath, yesterday.
It acknowledges significant improvements from local authorities in the installation of waste water treatment plants but criticises the level of industrial pollution coming from plants in towns which are licensed by the local authorities.
The report singled out the Hind river which flows into Lough Ree from Co Roscommon as one with the worst levels of pollution. While it was welcomed by organisations with responsibility for the monitoring of water quality in the Shannon, some groups and local authorities defended their role in anti-pollution measures.
Mr Kerry Sloane of the Lough Ree Task Force - a coalition of angling and tourist interests and the county councils of Westmeath, Longford and Roscommon - said the significant fact in the report was that while 35 per cent of the waterway may have some pollution the figure in the recent past was as high as 45 per cent.
"There is very serious work going on, particularly in the Hind river which was once a top class trout river. The real interest for those of us who are dedicated to cleaning it up is the finding by the Shannon Regional Fisheries Authority that it is still an important trout river," he said.
Referring to the installation of a new treatment plant in Co Roscommon, Mr Sloane agreed with the finding that a major source of pollution in the Hind was coming from a licensed industry in the town. He said Roscommon County Council had initiated legal action against the alleged culprit for breaches of its licence. Roscommon County Council yesterday declined to comment on individual cases but confirmed enforcement measures had been initiated against a licence holder.
The report notes the advent of Zebra mussels, which has resulted in an apparent cleaning of the water. However, the effect of the mussels on the ecology of the river are unknown.
Mr Paddy Mackey of the Save Our Lough Derg (SOLD) organisation said the key to improving the water quality in the river system was in implementing the recommendations.
"We've seen before reports which pinpointed the problems on the Shannon but there has been foot-dragging by local authorities in implementing the recommendations.
"We must police and enforce the regulations. Unfortunately, at local authority level it comes down to estimates and personnel. It is time it was taken seriously."
Mr Mackey said there were three culprits polluting the water - industry, households and agriculture. "There is no point in picking out one without the others." Meanwhile the Green MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna, said the European Commission had confirmed that it is to file a judicial case in the European Court against Ireland, focusing on "the general decline of water quality in lakes and rivers as a result of excessive input of phosphorous substances from inadequately treated sewage and agricultural effluent".
Ms McKenna welcomed the move and added that unless radical reforms were implemented which gave teeth to local authorities to look after water quality problems around the country, these problems would continue.
Ireland is also in the last stages of a court case relating to the poor quality of drinking water here, she said.
