Burren Water Management Unit Action Plan

Name Burren Water Management Unit

Area 180 km2

River Basin District South Eastern RBD

Main Counties Carlow

Protected AreasBlackstairs Mountains SAC 2 Drinking waters – both from Burren River

Sectoral Total Phosphorus Source (This does not imply impact)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

%

Burren Water Management Unit Action Plan

River statusSTATUS/IMPACTS

Overall status 8 River Water Bodies - 6 Moderate, 2 Poor. No lakes

Status elements Q score dictates overall status. Phys Chemical was good or high where monitored. Status for 4 moderate and 1 poor WBs are extrapolated. Chemical Status not monitored.

Possible Impacts - EPA Water Quality 2004

Aghalona (SE_14_1296 - Status 2009: Moderate) - Sluggish, lowland stream, excessive weed and silt, distinctly eutrophic. Agriculture suspected.

Burren (SE_14_347 - Status 2009: Moderate & SE_14_1781 - Poor) - Generally over-enriched and eutrophic in 2003, with the exception of uppermost reaches. Slight pollution recorded in mid and lower reaches. Marked deterioration d/s of trout farm at Milltown Bridge. Lower reaches somewhat better but overall considerable room for improvement.

PRESSURES/RISKS

Nutrient sources Almost all TP is diffuse (98%) mainly from Agriculture (60%) and Unsewered Properties (35%)

Point pressures 4 WWTP: Fenagh, Kernanstown, Rathoe, Tinryland.

2 WTP: Raheenleigh, Sion Cross.

4 Section 4s: Manufacturer, Private Company, Developer, Hotel.

Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) and Industrial Discharges

At risk:

Fenagh WWTP - Has recently been upgraded.

Tinryland WWTP

Fish hatchery (SE_14_451) - at risk due to historical deterioration in Q value and currently Q<4 within 3km D/S of outfall.

Rathoe WWTP upgraded according to Local Authority.

Quarries, Mines & Landfills

There are 3 Quarries.

Agriculture 7 WB at risk (SE_14_1546, SE_14_1296, SE_14_1821, SE_14_94, 1SE_14_1781, SE_14_1599, SE_14_451)

On-site systems There are 1875 septic tanks in this WMU, none of them are posing a risk to water quality due to their density, location and unsuitable hydrogeological conditions.

Forestry No waterbodies at risk from forestry

Dangerous substances

No waterbodies at risk from Dangerous Substances.

Morphology 6 WB at risk - SE_14_1546, SE_14_451, SE_14_1296, SE_14_1821, SE_14_941, SE_14_1781. Channelisation, Burren Drainage District (pre 1945)

Abstractions 2 abstractions - 2 WB at risk - SE_14_451, SE_14_347

Other None

SELECTED ACTION PROGRAMMENB All relevant basic measures, general supplementary measures and SEA mitigation measures apply

Point Sources See Point Source Discharge Table for WWTP at risk below.

INDUSTRY: Fish hatchery Section 4 - measures in addition to basic

measures apply.

Examine the terms of discharge authorisations to determine whether they require review for the purpose of compliance with water body objectives including protected area objectives and environmental quality standards.

Diffuse Sources AGRICULTURE - Good Agricultural Practice Regulations and Enforcement.

Other Protection of drinking water, abstraction control and future licensing.

Morphology - Channelisation Investigation to determine impact.

Fenagh WWTP has been recently upgraded. Sewerage Scheme planned for Kernanstown.

Point Source Discharge County Priority Measure (Capital Works)

Tinryland Carlow 2 Increase capacity of treatment plant.

Point Source Discharge County PriorityMeasure (Investigation before Capital

Works)

Rathoe Carlow 3Investigate the need for increase in capacity of treatment plant.

Point Source Discharge County Priority MeasureFenagh Carlow 3 Investigation of CSO's

Point Source Discharge County Priority MeasureFenagh Carlow 3 Ensure capacity of treatment plant is not

exceededRathoe Carlow 3 Ensure capacity of treatment plant is not

exceeded

High

Good

Moderate

Poor

Bad

Yet to be determined

River Data

Burren Water Management Unit Action Plan

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

Future Pressures and Developments

Throughout the river basin management cycle future pressures and developments will need to be managed to ensure compliance with the objectives of the Water Framework Directive and the Programme of Measures will need to be developed to ensure issues associated with these new pressures are addressed.

OBJECTIVES

Restore/Protect 2015

1 water bodies

Alternative Objectives

Extended Deadlines – 7 water bodies with 2021 deadline

New Modifications or Development – Carlow Main Drainage Scheme in 1 river waterbody (SE_14_1781)

HMWB/AWB - none

Member State Code

Monito

red Y

(E

xtra

pola

ted N

)

Donor W

ate

rbody

Macro

inverte

bra

tes (Q

)

Fre

shW

ate

r Pearl

Musse

l

Fish

Phyto

benth

os

(Dia

tom

s)

Morp

holo

gy

Specifi

c Polu

tants

Physio

-chem

ical

Eco

logica

l Sta

tus

Chem

ical S

tatu

s

Specia

l Are

a o

f Conse

rvatio

n

Specia

l Pro

tectio

n

Are

a

Nutrie

nt S

ensitiv

e

Wate

rs

Drin

kin

g W

ate

r

Obje

ctive

Date

obje

ctive to

be a

chie

ved

SE_14_1296 Y M G M GES 2021

SE_14_1546 N SE_12_789 M GES 2021

SE_14_1599 N SE_12_913 P GES 2021

SE_14_1781 Y M H M Y GES 2021

SE_14_1821 N SE_14_1781 M GES 2021

SE_14_347 Y P H P Y Y GES 2021

SE_14_451 N SE_12_789 M GES 2015

SE_14_941 N SE_12_1727 M GES 2021

IE_SE_Burren

Biological Elements Supporting Elements Protected Areas

This table outlines water body information including status and a breakdown of its elements, protected areas, objectives and timescales.