Sectoral Total Phosphorus Source (This does not imply impact)

010203040506070

%

Barrow Main Water Management Unit Action Plan

Name Barrow Main Water Management Unit

Area 1110 km2

River Basin District South Eastern RBD

Main Counties Kildare, Laois, Carlow

Protected Areas

River Barrow & River Nore SACMountmellick SACRiver Barrow UWWTD2 Drinking water abstractions from Barrow river and Burren river

Barrow Main Water Management Unit Action Plan

STATUS/IMPACTS

Overall status

48 River Water Bodies - 16 Good, 22 Moderate, 8 Poor, 2 Bad

Status elements

Q score dictates overall status in most WBs, Phys Chemical drives the status of 3 good and 2 moderate WBs. Phys Chemical status ranges between moderate and high where monitored. Status for 23 WBs were extrapolated. Chemical status was not monitored.

Possible Impacts - EPA Water Quality 2004

ATHY STREAM - Upper reaches (0200) heavily silted and weedy, lower reaches heavily calcified. Sensitive species not observed at either location. Unsatisfactory. Agriculture suspected. *Silt. Waterbody Code: SE_14_1288 / Status 09: Moderate (Based on Q value 3-4)AUGHNACREW - An impoverished fauna lacking sensitive macroinvertebrates indicated some considerable ecological upset in the middle reaches (0300) of this stream in October 2003 but the lower reaches (0500) although quite weedy were assessed as satisfactory for the time being. Waterbody Code: SE_14_1921 / status 09 : Moderate (Based on Q value 3-4)BALLYNABOLEY STREAM - As in previous surveys indications were of somewhat less than satisfactory quality in this small stream in 2003. Unsatisfactory. No change. Waterbody Code:SE_14_951 / Status 09: Poor (Based on Q 3) BARROW - As indicated by the net increase (of two) in the number of Class A locations and a corresponding reduction in Class C and because the number of locations showing some improvement (six) exceeded the number deteriorating (three) it is clear that there has been an overall improvement in the Barrow since 2000. This despite the fact that water levels were generally below normal everywhere and were very low in the upper river thus providing less dilution capacity for wastes. However, eutrophication continued to be widespread due to suspected agriculture in the upper river and to suspected sewage and other discharges from Portlaoise and Carlow.DOUGLAS (LAOIS) - The overall quality situation in the Douglas river in 2003 was very similar to the generally unsatisfactory condition recorded in the previous survey: marked eutrophication was again apparent at 0080 and 0200 and the lower reaches (0300), although slightly improved since 2000, were heavily silted. Severe bank erosion was apparent at the upper surveyed location (0080).*Silt. Waterbody code: SE_14_1304 / Status 09: Good (Based on Q4 in 2006);SE_14_1490 Status 09:Good Based on Q Score and Physchem.DUNRALLY STREAM - Widespread eutrophication plus heavy siltation by watering cattle in the lower reaches again reflect the unsatisfactory quality status of this stream. High conductivity values indicated a groundwater input at Stations. *Silt. Waterbody Code: SE_14_1746 / 2009 WB status: Moderate (Based on Q value 3-4) FUER -As in 2000 extremely low water level prevented sampling but from the quantities of animal manure observed on the substratum at Fuer Bridge it would be reasonable to assume that quality was unlikely to have been of a satisfactory standard in 2003. Waterbody code: SE_14_1482 / 2009 WB status:Moderate:Based on fail in physchem) FUSHOGE - Following a marked improvement in its lower reaches (0290) water quality was assessed as satisfactory at each of the three locations surveyed on the Fushoge River in early October 2003. However, heavy siltation and substratum disturbance by watering cattle threatened this situation at Strand Bridge (0050). Waterbody Code: SE_14_1283 - Status 09: Moderate (Based on physchem) GOWRAN - The Gowran River was in a generally unsatisfactory condition due to widespread eutrophication in October 2003; just one of the six locations surveyed (i.e., 0050) was satisfactory. Abundant sewage fungus and the virtual absence of resident macroinvertebrates pointed to serious pollution of agricultural origin (silage suspected) in the Freneystown area (0020) while municipal and industrial discharges are suspected for the unsatisfactory, hypertrophic condition of the river in and below Gowran (0100, 0220, 0300 and 0400). (Since survey in 2003, there has been a new WWTP at Gowran Village in 2009) Waterbody Code: SE_14_1879 - 2009 status: Poor (Based on Q value 3-4) MONEFELIM - The Monefelim River was in a mostly satisfactory condition as regards water quality in October 2003 but the lower reaches (0800, 1000) were assessed as eutrophic due to suspected agriculture (slurry), a reversal of the recovery recorded in the previous survey of 2000. Waterbody Code: SE_14_1663 – 2009 Status: Moderate (Based on Q value 3-4) OLD LEIGHLIN STREAM - Water levels were very low in this small stream in October 2003 when quality was assessed as satisfactory at Old Leighlin (0500) but excessive algal growths indicated significant eutrophication in the lower reaches (0700) where the DO concentration was 158 percent of saturation at the time of this survey. Waterbody Code: SE_14_1382 – Status 2009: Moderate (Based on Q value 3-4) POWERSTOWN - An improvement to ‘Fair’ quality was recorded in the lower reaches (0400) of this small stream in late July 2003. The upper reaches were again over-enriched as in previous surveys. Waterbody Code: SE_14_1383 / 2009 status: Good (Based on Q Score)TULLY STREAM - Minor improvements at 0100 and 0200 contrast with substantial deterioration at 0300 and 0390 where the river was seriously polluted at the time of this survey in late August 2003. Waterbody Code: SE_14_842 / Status 09: Bad (Based on Q value 2 and fail on physchem)

River Status

High

Good

Moderate

Poor

Bad

Yet to be determined

Barrow Main Water Management Unit Action PlanPRESSURES / RISKS

Quarries, Mines & Landfills

There are 42 Quarries within WMU. 2 have Section 4 licenses. 2 WBs at risk - SE_14_196 and SE_14_1556.

Agriculture The majority of the area of the WMU is at risk from Agriculture

On-site systems There are 13884 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 7 Waterbodies at risk - SE_14_1746, SE_14_1687, SE_14_1610, SE_14_1304, SE_14_1418, SE_14_842 and SE_14_572 - Barrow Drainage District (Pre 1945 Channelisation)

Abstractions 23 Abstractions but no waterbodies at risk. Additional Groundwater abstractions as advised by Laois CoCo at Lough Boreholes and La Bergerie Wells Portarlington.

Other 2 Artificial Waterbodies - Grand Canal and Barrow Navigation

PRESSURES/RISKS

Nutrient sources 83% of TP is Diffuse, 60% of which is from Agriculture, 20% from unsewered properties . 16% of TP comes from WWTP

Point pressures 26 WWTP: Clonmore, Leighlinbridge, Mortarstown, Muine Bheag, Nurney (Carlow), Old Leighlin, Raheendoran, Athy, Kilberry, Kildangan, Kildare Town, Kilmead, Monasterevin, Nurney (Kildare), Goresbridge, Gowran sewerage Scheme, Paulstown, Ballylinan, Coolanaugh, Emo, Portarlington, Ballyroe, Calverstown, Castlemitchell, Derrinturn, Cappalug.

3 WTP: River Barrow Treatment Plant, Muine Bheag Treatment Works; (abstraction from River Barrow at Portarlington) and Tobergoolick Poll (Paulstown).

6 EPA Licensed Waste Facilities

14 Section 4s: Hotel, School, B&B/Caravan/Camping Park, 2 Building Contractors, 2 Stud/Stables, Nursing Home, Building Products Supplier, 2 Quarries, Golf Club, Concrete Manufacturer, Private Company.

14 IPPC: 2 Pig Farms, 2 Private Companies, Packaging Company, Chilling Company, Sugar Refinery, 3 Manufacturers, Building Contractor, Foods Processor, Steelwork Contractor, Chemical Lime Producer.

Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) and Industrial Discharges

19 of the 24 WWTP's are at risk: Clonmore WWTP Leighlinbridge WWTP Mortarstown WWTP Muine Bheag WWTP Nurney WWTP Old Leighlin WWTP Raheendoran WWTP Athy WWTP Kilberry WWTP . Kildare Town WWTPMonasterevin WWTP Nurney WWTP, Kildare Goresbridge WWTPGowran Sewerage Scheme WWTPPaulstown WWTP Ballylinan WWTP – Portarlington WWTP –

2 Section 4 Licenses at risk

Barrow Main Water Management Unit Action Plan

OBJECTIVES

Restore/Protect 2015

21 water bodies

Alternative Objectives

Extended Deadlines – 27 water bodies with 2021 deadline

3 New Modifications or Developments Carlow, (River Barrow) Flood alleviation scheme being undertaken along with Carlow County CouncilStrategic Flood Risk Management Feasibility study being undertaken Water reservoir at Gerryhinch.

HMWB/AWB - 2 Artificial Waterbodies - Grand Canal and Barrow Navigation

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.

Point Source Discharge County Priority Measure (Capital Works)Kildare Town WWTP Kildare 1 Increase capacity of treatment plant.Kildare Town WWTP Kildare 2 Provide tertiary treatment or relocate outfall.Paulstown Sewerage Scheme WWTP Kilkenny 1 Increase capacity of treatment plant.Paulstown Sewerage Scheme WWTP Kilkenny 1 Provide tertiary treatment or relocate outfall.Paulstown Sewerage Scheme WWTP Kilkenny 1 Provide nutrient removal or relocate outfall.Portarlington WWTP Laois 1 Provide tertiary treatment or relocate outfall.

Point Source Discharge County Priority Measure (Investigation before Capital Works)

Athy WWTP Kildare 2 Investigate the need for increase in capacity of treatment plant.

Ballylinan WWTP Laois 2 Investigate the need for tertiary treatment or for the relocation of the outfall.

Goresbridge Kilkenny 2 Investigate the need for increase in capacity of treatment plant.

Kilberry, Kildare Kildare 2 Investigate the need for increase in capacity of treatment plant.

Kildare Town WWTP Kildare 2 Investigate the need for increase in capacity of treatment plant.

Nurney Carlow 3 Investigate the need for tertiary treatment or for the relocation of the outfall.

OldLeighlin Carlow 2 Investigate the need for increase in capacity of treatment plant.

Point Source Discharge County Priority MeasureKildare Town WWTP Kildare 1 Commence implementation of the Pollution

Reduction Programme for Shellfish watersPoint Source Discharge County Priority Measure

Ballylinan WWTP Laois 1 Implement an appropriate performance management system

Paulstown Sewerage Scheme WWTP Kilkenny 1 Implement an appropriate performance management system

Kildare Town WWTP Kildare 1 Implement an appropriate performance management system

Point Source Discharge County Priority MeasureMortarstown WWTP Carlow 2 Investigation of CSO'sPortarlington WWTP Laois 2 Investigation of CSO'sKildare Town WWTP Kildare 3 Investigation of CSO's

Point Source Discharge County Priority MeasureClonmore Carlow 2 Ensure capacity of treatment plant is not

exceededMortarstown WWTP Carlow 2 Ensure capacity of treatment plant is not

exceededNurney Carlow 3 Ensure capacity of treatment plant is not

exceededNurney WWTP Kildare 3 Ensure capacity of treatment plant is not

exceededGowran Sewerage Scheme WWTP Kilkenny 3 Ensure capacity of treatment plant is not

exceededKildare Town WWTP Kildare 2 Ensure capacity of treatment plant is not

exceeded

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

Point Sources WWTP – see Actions table to the rightINDUSTRY2 Section 4 Licenses – investigate risk. All - 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 Good Agricultural Practice Regulations and Enforcement.

Other Morphology 7 waterbodies within the WMU require Channelisation Investigation to investigate impact of drainage works.

Barrow Main Water Management Unit Action PlanRiver Data

Member State Code

Monitored Y

(Extrapolated N)

Donor Waterbody

Macroinvertebrate

s (Q)

FreshWater Pearl

Mussel

Fish

Phytobenthos (Diatom

s)

Morphology

Specific Polutants

Physio-chemical

Ecological Status

Chemical Status

Special Area of Conservation

Special Protection Area

Nutrient Sensitive W

aters

Drinking Water

Objective

Date objective to be achieved

SE_14_1045 N SE_14_301 G Y GES 2009SE_14_1102 N SE_14_951 P GES 2021SE_14_1131 Y G G Y GES 2009SE_14_1258 N SE_14_1278 P GES 2021SE_14_1261 N SE_14_1418 G Y GES 2009SE_14_1283 Y G M M Y GES 2015SE_14_1287 Y G G GES 2009SE_14_1288 Y M H M GES 2021SE_14_1304 Y G G G GES 2009SE_14_1374 Y G H G GES 2009SE_14_1382 Y M H M Y GES 2021SE_14_1383 Y G H G Y GES 2009SE_14_1391 N SE_14_951 P GES 2021SE_14_1418 Y G G GES 2009SE_14_1482 Y G M M GES 2015SE_14_1484 N SE_14_50 G GES 2009SE_14_1485 N SE_14_1382 M GES 2015SE_14_1490 Y G G G GES 2009SE_14_1556 N SE_14_1781 M GES 2021SE_14_1610 N SE_14_999 P GES 2021SE_14_1660 N SE_14_1288 M GES 2021SE_14_1663 Y M H M Y GES 2021SE_14_1687 N SE_14_1374 G GES 2009SE_14_1721 N SE_14_1382 M GES 2021SE_14_1746 Y M H M Y GES 2021SE_14_1770 N SE_14_1875 M GES 2021SE_14_1830 Y M M GES 2021SE_14_1869 N SE_14_1875 M GES 2021SE_14_1879 Y B G B Y GES 2021SE_14_1942 N SE_14_572 M GES 2021SE_14_196_1 Y P M P Y Y Y GES 2021SE_14_196_2 Y M G M Y Y GES 2021SE_14_196_3 Y G G G Y Y GES 2009SE_14_196_4 Y M G M Y Y GES 2021SE_14_196_5 Y G G G Y Y GES 2009SE_14_196_6 Y M G M Y Y GES 2015SE_14_221 N SE_14_1781 M Y GES 2015SE_14_434 N SE_14_842 P GES 2021SE_14_488 N SE_14_1382 M GES 2021SE_14_50 Y H G G Y GES 2009SE_14_531 N SE_16_1502 G GES 2009SE_14_572 Y M M M Y GES 2021SE_14_676 N SE_14_951 P GES 2021SE_14_689 N SE_14_1382 M GES 2021SE_14_799 N SE_14_1383 G GES 2009SE_14_81 N SE_14_1382 M GES 2021SE_14_842 Y B M B GES 2021SE_14_951 Y P P GES 2021

IE_SE_BarrowMainBiological Elements Supporting Elements Protected Areas

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