Water Quality & Tourism

Posted by Keith Martin on April 14, 2009 at 02:58 PM

One of the many factors affecting our attractiveness for tourists is our water quality. For years, the beaches of Brittas Bay, Courttown, Duncannon and Curracloe, among others, have brought tourists to the South East from other parts of Ireland and abroad.

But now, water quality in some areas is deteriorating, and unfortunately targets are being set far too low.

Only 50% of lakes and reservoirs examined in the recent South Eastern River Basin Management Plan are of good ecological status or good ecological potential. Only 30% of rivers and canals meet these standards. Perhaps most surprisingly, only 40% of coastal waters examined so far are expected to be of good ecological status or good ecological potential by 2027.

Almost 100% of rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs, estuaries and groundwaters are expected to be off good ecological status or potential by 2021. Why not the same for coastal waters?

We have to set our expectations, and our goals, higher. How can we expect to attract tourists when those in charge of coastal water quality are satisfied with such a low number? We need to set our aims higher.

The European Union has a strong regulatory framework to protect and improve our environment. If elected to the European Parliament in June, I will campaign for better implementation of these rules so that the beautiful coast of the sunny South-East remains an attractive destination for tourists.

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