{"id":19073,"date":"2022-10-03T19:32:56","date_gmt":"2022-10-03T19:32:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legalblog.ie\/?p=19073"},"modified":"2024-02-05T20:09:18","modified_gmt":"2024-02-05T20:09:18","slug":"water-pollution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/water-pollution\/","title":{"rendered":"Water Pollution"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/water-pollution\/#Agriculture\" title=\"Agriculture\">Agriculture<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/water-pollution\/#Fisheries_Offences\" title=\"Fisheries Offences\">Fisheries Offences<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/water-pollution\/#Local_Authorities_and_Farming\" title=\"Local Authorities and Farming\">Local Authorities and Farming<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/water-pollution\/#Nitrates_Directive\" title=\"Nitrates Directive\">Nitrates Directive<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/water-pollution\/#Implementing_Regulations\" title=\"Implementing Regulations\">Implementing Regulations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/water-pollution\/#Protection_of_Waters\" title=\"Protection of Waters\">Protection of Waters<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/water-pollution\/#Farmyard_Requirements\" title=\"Farmyard Requirements\">Farmyard Requirements<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/water-pollution\/#Fertilisers\" title=\"Fertilisers\">Fertilisers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Agriculture\"><\/span>Agriculture<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Agriculture can be a\u00a0 significant cause of water pollution. Much agricultural activity is exempt from planning permission. In some cases, there may be conditions under existing planning permission granted for some purpose.<\/p>\n<p>Only some discharges of agricultural effluents from point sources are subject to licensing, such as intensive livestock and poultry units licensed by the EPA. Other types of discharges may be subject to licence.<\/p>\n<p>The local authority has powers under the water pollution legislation to serve notices for breach of legislation and require remedial action. Equally, there may be enforcement under the fisheries legislation by IFI\/ Loughs Agency<\/p>\n<p>Nutrient management planning is required by bylaws made by some authorities under the Water Pollution Act. Some commercial operators are subject to licensing by the EPA for water pollution licence. There are regulations prescribing water quality standards in relation to phosphorus.<\/p>\n<p>Water standards based on concentrations of phosphorus are to be achieved by steps taken by the authorities and EPA in discharging their functions under the legislation.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fisheries_Offences\"><\/span>Fisheries Offences<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Before modern water pollution legislation was introduced in the 1970s, there was fishing legislation that protected fishing waters. The release of certain materials and deleterious matter into waters is an offence under the Fisheries Act.<\/p>\n<p>Deleterious material is any substance which is injurious or poisonous to fish or their spawning grounds or their food or impairs the usefulness of the bed and soil of the waters as spawning ground.\u00a0 It is an offence to cause or permit such matters to enter the water.<\/p>\n<p>The offence is committed regardless of whether the person concerned has been negligent. Farmers can be prosecuted for leakages into the water regardless of fault. Legislation is enforced by Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Loughs Agency in its area in Ireland and Northern Ireland. It can be prosecuted summarily in the District Court or with a jury in the Circuit Court.<\/p>\n<p>There is a defence for discharges under a\u00a0 water pollution licence and operators,and where the actions are based on compliance with standards under modern environmental legislation. The offences are still prosecuted because they are strict. Once the discharge water occurs, the onus is on the person prosecuted to raise the limited defences.<\/p>\n<p>The Department of the Marine has powers to make bylaws under the Fisheries Act prohibiting the discharge of any effluent from sand or gravel-washing plants into water. The Loughs Agency has extensive powers to make regulations.<\/p>\n<p>There are certain other specific prohibitions on the fisheries legislation in relation to damaging oyster beds, oyster fisheries muscles periwinkle and cockle fisheries<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Local_Authorities_and_Farming\"><\/span>Local Authorities and Farming<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A local authority may make byelaws regarding the correction, storage, treatment, and disposal of any polluting matter used in connection with any operation activity of practice for use or other premises carried on for the purpose of agriculture, horticulture, or forestry. They may cover the application to land of silage effluent slurry manure fertiliser pesticide or other pollutant matter or any other operation activity or practice for the purpose of agriculture or forestry. There is a procedure for making an adaptation of the bylaws.<\/p>\n<p>A local authority may serve a written notice on the owner of land or the occupier involving the application to land or growing crops or the injection of any silage effluent animal slurry manure fertiliser pesticide, or other polluting matter. This may require the person to prepare a nutrient management plan in relation to the activity. This must be submitted to the local authority for approval within five months.<\/p>\n<p>The provision is supervised to some extent by more modern EU legislation effectively managed through the basic payment scheme and its enhancements.<\/p>\n<p>The local authority may institute proceedings whether or not the offence is committed in its area.<\/p>\n<p>Local authorities must monitor surface waters and groundwaters at selected measuring points within the functional area to establish the extent of pollution from agricultural sources and to determine trends in the occurrence and extent of pollution. They must carry out inspections of farm holdings as necessary and coordinate inspection activities inspections undertaken by other public bodies<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Nitrates_Directive\"><\/span>Nitrates Directive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The so-called Nitrates Directive deals with the protection of water from pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources. It covers fertilisers natural and artificial. There is a threshold for nitrates. It seeks to deal with water pollution caused by spreading or discharging livestock effluents and the excessive use of fertilisers. It contains provisions relevant to the disposal of sewage sludge. Limits apply to the amount of livestock manure that may be spread in vulnerable zones.<\/p>\n<p>Implementation of the directive has been difficult and has been challenged. In challenges originating in the UK under Human Rights law, the requirement to balance property rights the burden placed on farmers was required to be measured against the common good must be proportionate.<\/p>\n<p>The directive sets out set out methods by which the objectives were to be achieved. Action programmes were required. In various challenges, various countries, including Ireland, were found to have infringed the requirements of the directive.<\/p>\n<p>The Irish action program requires farmers to comply with guidelines on good farming practices and imposes requirements to prepare a nutrient plan and carry out farm surveys as well as byelaws<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Implementing_Regulations\"><\/span>Implementing Regulations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The European Communities (Protection of Water against Pollution from Agricultural Sources) 2003, replaced in 2006 and updated in 2017, apply for the purpose of protection against nitrate pollution. The\u00a0 national action plan program contains recommendations on nitrate and phosphorus application rates, the control of farmyard pollution scheme, REPS and EPOS scheme and\u00a0 good farming practices as promoted by the Department of Agriculture<\/p>\n<p>In effect, most environmental controls are achieved through statutory management requirements (SMR) and good agricultural and environmental conditions (GAEC) attached to basic payment scheme payments or as enhancements. There are guidelines and recommendations on the control of\u00a0 pollution from farm wastes. There have been various schemes in addition to the basic requirements involving higher levels of centres and incentives. Advice on pollution is made available to farmers by the Department of Agriculture.<\/p>\n<p>The occupier of land must ensure compliance with the regulations in relation to holding and keeping certain records. Breach of the nitrates regulations is an offence subject on summary conviction to a fine up to \u20ac5000 per imprisonment up to 3 months or on conviction on indictment to a fine up to \u20ac500,000 and imprisonment up to one year.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Protection_of_Waters\"><\/span>Protection of Waters<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014 give effect to the nitrates action programme. This is part of the cross-compliance requirements for farmers. There are also legal requirements<\/p>\n<p>They include measures such as periods when the application of fertilisers on land is prohibited, limits on the application of fertiliser storage requirements for livestock manure, and monitoring of the effectiveness of measures in terms of agricultural practice and impact on water quality. They provide for recommended practice in farmyard nutrient management as well as the prevention of water pollution from fertilisers and certain agricultural activities<\/p>\n<p>There are limits on spreading livestock manure and slurry with nitrogen values exceeding a certain mass per hectare annually. There are times of the year when fertiliser may not be. There are requirements for overall maximum fertilisation rates for nitrogen and phosphorus. There must be sufficient storage capacity to meet the requirements of the regulations and the requirements applicable to storage facilities. Records are required to be kept which can be inspected.<\/p>\n<p>There are EU directives on dangerous substances requiring the elimination of certain substances of pollutant nature. Other substances listed must meet limit values and meet objectives for them.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Farmyard_Requirements\"><\/span>Farmyard Requirements<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The regulations provide conditions regarding the collection and storage of manure and certain other effluents. There are detailed requirements in relation to storage capacity and facilities. The minimum storage facilities are defined with reference to grass arable silage and maize with reference to short-term awful storage. Storage capacity of certain periods is required with respect to certain types of manures. Storage periods for cattle manure vary in three zones A, B &amp; C.<\/p>\n<p>The amount of soiled water that is produced in a holding must be managed and limited. Soiled water covers a variety of contamination types. There are requirements for minimum storage capacities.<\/p>\n<p>The stocking rate is determined by the total amount of organic nitrogen on the farm divided by the number of hectares declared in the basic payment scheme application. The calculation of the stocking rate depends on a number of factors relevant to the type of animal and the age. There are limits on the maximum phosphorus fertilisation of grassland.<\/p>\n<p>Derogations from the normal stocking maximum must be applied for and obtained from the Department of Agriculture. A plan is required which must comply with terms and conditions.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fertilisers\"><\/span>Fertilisers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There are restrictions on the use of fertilisers. Fertilisers can be spread only during certain periods. There are limits in respect of chemical fertilisers and organic fertilisers and farmyard manure. They are more stringent in areas of higher vulnerability. Fertilisers and manure are must not be spread during certain periods which differ between zones.<\/p>\n<p>Farmers must take reasonable steps necessary to prevent or minimise the application to land of fertilisers in excess of crop requirements. This is to be achieved by a combination of stocking rate and fertiliser application restrictions.<\/p>\n<p>There are requirements in relation to the spreading of chemical fertilisers, organic fertilisers, and soil water. Chemical fertiliser cannot be applied to land within 2 m of the surface of a watercourse.<\/p>\n<p>There are restrictions on organic fertiliser and soiled water fertiliser within 200 m (4 to 30 m where the local authority allows) of the abstraction point of any surface watercourse boreholes spring a well used for water for human consumption in water schemes supplying more than 100 m\u00b2 more of water per day or serving 500 persons and more. The restrictions are less for smaller schemes. There are similar rules in relation to farmyard manure in the vicinity within certain distances of a spring or well.<\/p>\n<p>Supplementary feeding points must be more than 20m from surface points or be on bare rock.\u00a0Silage bales may not be stored outside farmyards within 20 m of the surface of a watercourse for drinking water abstraction points without adequate facilities for collecting effluent<\/p>\n<p>Fertilisers or soiled water shall not be applied to land; if it is waterlogged or likely to flood snow-covered, heavy rain is forecast within 48 hours or the ground slopes steeply and taking into account factors such as proximity of water soil condition ground cover and rainfall, there is a significant risk of causing pollution.<\/p>\n<p>There are extensive record-keeping and monitoring requirements. Farmers who breach the limits are given the opportunity to explain why they should not be penalised. The provision for inspections by local authorities and the Department of Agriculture.<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-19073\" data-postid=\"19073\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-19073 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Agriculture Agriculture can be a\u00a0 significant cause of water pollution. Much agricultural activity is exempt from planning permission. In some cases, there may be conditions under existing planning permission granted for some purpose. Only some discharges of agricultural effluents from point sources are subject to licensing, such as intensive livestock and poultry units licensed by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[267],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19073"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19073"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19073\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31507,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19073\/revisions\/31507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19073"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19073"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19073"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}