Figile Water Management Unit Action Plan

Name Figile Water Management Unit

Area 639 km2

River Basin District South Eastern RBD

Main Counties Offaly, Kildare

Protected Areas

Ballynafagh Bog SACBallynafagh Lake SACMouds Bog SACPollardstown Fen SACThe Long Derries SAC

Sectoral Total Phosphorus Source (This does not imply impact)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

%

Figile Water Management Unit Action PlanSTATUS/IMPACTS

Overall status 16 River Water Bodies - 1 Good, 5 Moderate, 9 Poor, 1 Bad. No lakes.

Status elements

Q score dictates overall status, except for 1 bad WB where fish reduces the status from poor to bad, Phys Chemical status ranges from high to moderate where monitored. The status for 2 moderate, and 4 poor sites were extrapolated. Chemical status not monitored.

Possible Impacts - EPA Water Quality 2004

CLONCUMBER STREAM - The Cloncumber or Pollardstown Stream was heavily

silted in its upper reaches and eutrophic in its lower reaches in late August 2003.

*Siltation plus suspected ground water effects. Waterbody code: SE_14_1870 / 09

Status: Poor (Based on Q value 3)

CUSHINA - Heavy usage by watering animals is suspected as being the most likely

cause of the further deterioration and the unsatisfactory condition of the upper river

(0050) but, as indicated by the ‘Fair’ (Q4) quality at Stations 0080 and 0100, the

lower half was likely to have been satisfactory in 2003. Waterbody Code:

SE_14_1875 / 09 status: Moderate (Based on Q value 3-4)

DAINGEAN - A significant improvement was recorded below Daingean (0200) in

2003; serious pollution was no longer indicated at that point but further recovery will

be required before satisfactory conditions are restored there. The unsatisfactory

condition of the upper river was indicated by poor biological indicators and by the

very low DO (21%) recorded at Island Bridge (0100) at the time of this survey. A

minor improvement was recorded near Esker Bridge (0520) but a marked

deterioration in the lower reaches was indicated by the complete absence of insect

life formerly present at Station 0600. Overall condition unsatisfactory. Waterbody

Code; SE_14_1561 / 2009 Status: Poor (Based on Q value 2-3)

ESKER STREAM - As indicated by the unbalanced macroinvertebrate fauna and

also by the DO values recorded (55% & 73%) conditions were assessed as

unsatisfactory at both locations surveyed in 2003. Has deteriorated since 2000.

Agriculture suspected. Waterbody Code: SE_14_239 / WB status 09; Poor (Based on

Q value 3)

FIGILE - The overall quality situation in the Figile River in August 2003 was

unsatisfactory and was unchanged in comparison with its condition in 2000. The

uppermost surveyed location (0050) was again seriously polluted by suspected

industrial and/or sewage discharges which are suspected as polluting the river for a

considerable distance downstream i.e., to Cushaling Bridge (0100) and beyond. DO

values recorded at the locations listed above were, respectively, 50%, 68%, 63%,

60%, 66% and 119%. Waterbody Code: SE_14_987 -2009 status: Bad (Based on bad fish status)

SLATE – The Slate River was seriously polluted by suspected sewage and domestic

wastes in its upper reaches (0020) in late August 2003 and as the Q ratings at Ford

and Agar Bridges (0050, 0100) indicate, quality remained significantly depressed for

a considerable distance downstream. DO values recorded at the upper three stations

were, respectively, 15%, 30% and 79% at the time of this survey. Indications at

Stations 0150 and 0210 are of considerable eutrophication in the middle and lower

reaches and only the lowermost section (0300) could be considered satisfactory.

Waterbody Code: SE_14_999 / WB status 2009: Poor (Based on Q value 3)

PRESSURES/RISKS

Nutrient sources 94% of TP is Diffuse, with 56% from Agriculture and 30% from Unsewered Properties

Point pressures 12 WWTP (Coill Dubh, Milltown (1), Milltown (2), Rathangan, Robertstown, Bracknagh, Clonbullogue, Clonygowan, Daingean, Walsh Island, Ticknevin, Allenwood);

3 WTP (Daingean, Toberdaly, Walsh Island);

4 Section 4s (Enterprise park, Quarry, Car Wash, Building Production.

8 IPPC – 4 private companies, Meat Plant, 2 Power Plants, Research Centre.

4 EPA Licensed Waste Facilities

Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) and Industrial Discharges

At risk:

Coill Dubh WWTP

Milltown, Kildare WWTP

Rathangan WWTP

Robertstown WWTP

Clonbullogue WWTP

Clonygowan WWTP

Daingean WWTP –

Walsh Island WWTP

Quarries, Mines & Landfills

There are 14 Quarries.

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

On-site systems There are 6285 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 3 waterbodies are noted as 'At Risk' due to channelisation; the Barrow Drainage District (pre 1945 channelisation scheme). All 3 of these water bodies are traversed by the Artificial Waterbody (AWB) Grand Canal Barrow Line - SE_14_998, SE_14_999 and SE_14_1870.

Abstractions 7 Abstractions but no waterbodies at risk.

Other 2 Artificial Waterbodies - Grand Canal and Ballynafagh Reservoir

River Status

Figile Water Management Unit Action PlanSELECTED ACTION PROGRAMMENB All relevant basic measures, general supplementary measures and SEA mitigation measures apply

Point Sources See Action Table for WWTP at risk below.

INDUSTRY: Investigate Section 4s at risk.

Examine the terms of all 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 AGRICULTURE - Good Agricultural Practice Regulations and Enforcement.

Other MORPHOLOGY-SE_14_998, SE_14_999 and SE_14_1870 will all require

Channelisation Investigation to determine impact.

OBJECTIVES

Restore/Protect 2015

5 water bodies

Alternative Objectives

Extended Deadlines – 11 water bodies with 2021 deadlines

3 New Modifications or Developments - Proposed peaking plant at Edenderry, Proposed waste and compost facility at Drehid, and Proposed wind farm at Ballyhugh.

HMWB/AWB - 2 AWBs in the WMU - Ballynafagh Reservoir and the Grand Canal.

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)

Clonygowan WWTP Offaly 2Provide tertiary treatment or relocate outfall.

Clonygowan WWTP Offaly 2Provide nutrient removal or relocate outfall.

Daingean WWTP Offaly 2Provide tertiary treatment or relocate outfall.

Derrinturn WWTP Kildare 1Provide tertiary treatment or relocate outfall.

Derrinturn WWTP Kildare 1Provide nutrient removal or relocate outfall.

Point Source Discharge County PriorityMeasure (Investigation before Capital

Works)

Walsh Island WWTP Offaly 3Investigate the need for increase in capacity of treatment plant.

Point Source Discharge County Priority MeasureDaingean WWTP Offaly 1 Implement an appropriate performance

management systemRathangan WWTP Kildare 1 Implement an appropriate performance

management systemPoint Source Discharge County Priority Measure

Allenwood WWTP Kildare 2 Investigation of CSO'sCoill Dubh WWTP Kildare 2 Investigation of CSO'sMilltown, Kildare Kildare 2 Investigation of CSO'sRobertstown WWTP Kildare 2 Investigation of CSO'sDaingean WWTP Offaly 3 Investigation of CSO's

Point Source Discharge County Priority MeasureAllenwood WWTP Kildare 2 Ensure capacity of treatment plant is not

exceededRobertstown WWTP Kildare 2 Ensure capacity of treatment plant is not

exceeded

High

Good

Moderate

Poor

Bad

Yet to be determined

River Data

Figile Water Management Unit Action Plan

Member State Code

Monito

red Y

(E

xtra

pola

ted N

)

Donor W

ate

rbody

Macro

inverte

bra

tes (Q

)

Fresh

Wate

r Pearl

Musse

l

Fish

Phyto

benth

os

(Dia

tom

s)

Morp

holo

gy

Specifi

c Polu

tants

Physio

-chem

ical

Eco

logica

l Sta

tus

Chem

ical S

tatu

s

Specia

l Are

a o

f Conse

rvatio

n

Specia

l Pro

tectio

n

Are

a

Nutrie

nt S

ensitiv

e

Wate

rs

Drin

kin

g W

ate

r

Obje

ctive

Date

obje

ctive to

be a

chie

ved

SE_14_1161 N SE_14_999 P GES 2021

SE_14_152 Y M M M Y GES 2015

SE_14_1561 Y P M P GES 2021

SE_14_1737 N SE_14_239 P GES 2021

SE_14_1824 N SE_14_1875 M GES 2015

SE_14_1870 Y P H P Y GES 2021

SE_14_1875 Y M G M GES 2021

SE_14_1939 N SE_14_239 P GES 2021

SE_14_23 N SE_14_987 P GES 2021

SE_14_239 Y P P GES 2021

SE_14_276 Y G H G GES 2009

SE_14_938 N SE_14_998 M GES 2015

SE_14_987 Y P B M B GES 2021

SE_14_997 N SE_14_239 P GES 2021

SE_14_998 Y M M M GES 2015

SE_14_999 Y M G P Y GES 2021

IE_SE_Figile

Biological Elements Supporting Elements Protected Areas

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