Pollution Rise in Irish Rivers


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News from the Wire Services Re: Ireland & the Irish


          Pollution Rise In Irish Rivers

PA   05/19/99 12:11
Copyright 1999 PA News

By Chris Parkin, PA News

   The pollution of Irish rivers has increased by 10% over the 
past decade, according to a report today from Ireland's 
Environmental Protection Agency.

   The agency found in a survey that one in three of the country's 
rivers were contaminated.

   Farmers and some industries have been blamed for the bulk of 
the extra pollution, through phosphates and other materials 
leaking into rivers from their lands.

   The report said that over a 10-year period, the total length of 
Irish rivers classified as unpolluted had dropped from 77% to 67%, 
continuing a trend begun 25 years ago.

   The agency said: "While the degree of pollution is minor in 
many cases, it is of concern in view of its potential impact on 
the pollution-sensitive trout and salmon in rivers and lakes, and 
of the reliance on the latter as sources for the bulk of public 
water supply."

   A spokesman for the Irish Farmers' Association said its members 
had "substantially reduced" applications of artificial phosphate 
fertiliser, and more cash was being invested in pollution-control 
schemes.
 
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