Water pollution could lead to disaster

Water pollution could lead to disaster

6 Sep 1978

‘WATER, water everywhere. Nor any drop to drink.” The cry of the Ancient Mariner, may well be true of Ireland in the not-too-distant future if the pollution of drinking, water, lakes, rivers and seas continues to grow at its present rate. And looking ahead there is little reason to believe that much, will be achieved. It is true that the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1976, is coming into force but there is good reason to believe that it will be less than effective. For instance many local authorities do not possess the staffs necessary to enforce the law and there are loopholes which allow the most outrageous poisoning of rivers and streams to go unchecked.

The whole question is not academic and your, personal health and your family may already have, been affected by, water-carried substances in your food and your drinking supplies.

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Dublin County Council was also fined for the pollution of the Dodder and Poddle Rivers and the situation in the Broadmeadow estuary near Swords has been highlighted in a report commissioned by local farmers and residents. The report laid the responsibility for pollution on the shoulders of the Council because it failed to check on discharges into the waterway. It is almost farcical that this local authority will be charged with a good deal of responsibility under the new Water Pollution Act.

It has, however, been alleged that the new Act will protect local authorities from prosecution in many cases and the First Schedule to the Water Pollution regulations exempts sanitary authorities from control in relation to “Trade effluent discharged … in the course of the performance of its powers and duties other than from a sewer. Neglect, stupidity and, in some cases, corruption have led to a situation around the country which, according to chairman of An Taisce, Philip Mullaly, is bringing us, “within striking distance of the pollution load of a densely populated country like Britain which has experienced 150 years of industrial development.”

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