SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS have been made to improve drinking water quality and to limit the effects of pollution on our rivers and lakes. But the battle is being lost, in spite of new regulations under the EU Water Framework Directive and considerable financial investment. Over the past 20 years, the percentage of pollution-free rivers has nearly halved, falling from 30 to 17 per cent. It represents an indictment of those who damage the environment and of those who are charged to protect it.
Local authorities had responsibility for assessing water quality and instigating prosecutions. But because council sewage plants and dumps were major sources of pollution, activity was minimal. That has changed. Oversight has been transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Lots of money has been spent. Between 2000 and 2005, the percentage of towns providing secondary waste treatment almost quadrupled to 82 per cent. But, while new equipment was installed, training of staff was inadequate. Pollution has continued. It is a dreadful situation.
The latest report from the EPA suggests that matters are worse than was thought. A new classification system under the Water Framework Directive indicates that half of our rivers and lakes will require remedial work if they are to reach the required EU standard by 2015. Urban development and intensive farming are the main culprits, through municipal and agriculture discharges, while forestry contributes to the situation and acidification of rivers. This has been known for many years. But the political will to challenge vested groups and to change the situation has been lacking.
Now that the European Commission has taken a keen interest, that may change. Unless we take our responsibilities seriously and clean up our waterways, we will face huge fines from Brussels. We have six years to put things right or, at least, to show that we are serious about our obligations.
Public concern should not stop at hefty EU fines. The threat to public health and to life itself, particularly involving cryptosporidium, remains. And the regularity with which “boil water” notices are issued by local authorities is worrying. In spite of that, public water supplies receive a high quality rating. Private group water schemes, on the other hand, are accidents waiting to happen. Animal or human faeces contaminate more than half of those water supplies. This situation cannot be allowed to continue.