Environment
Pollution Control - Water Pollution
Protecting our surface and ground waters from pollution is the primary objective in the water pollution control area. This is governed by the LG (Water Pollution) Acts, 1977 & 1990. A catchment management approach has been taken by Sligo County Council. The county is divided into three main catchments - the Owenmore, which includes Lough Arrow, the Lough Gill, and the Moy Catchments.
Catchment Management involves surveying the area to determine the risk to surface and ground waters, associated with activities in the area. These activities include forestry, farms, septic tanks, industrial discharges and waste water treatment discharges. On completion and analysis of the survey work, measures shall be put in place to minimise the pollution risk from individual activities, and overall policies will be put in place for each sector.
| Lake | No. Tech. Comm.Meetings | No. Septic Tank Surveys | No. Farm Surveys | No. Lake samples taken & analysed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lough Arrow | 5 | 150 | 112 | 84 |
| Lough Gill | 4 | 136 | 137 | 73 |
| Total | 9 | 286 | 249 | 157 |
A Lough Arrow Sediment Study was initiated in 2002. This involves the collection and analysis of two core samples from the deeper areas of the lake to allow compilation of trends in nutrient inputs and productivity over the past fifty years. This should give a historical perspective for benchmarking purposes and assist in the compilation of the overall nutrient budget for the lake. The core samples were taken in 2002 and analysis commenced.
In addition to the above, recommendations were made on all planning proposals and forestry proposals in all the sensitive catchments in County Sligo. The following is a summary of the applications dealt with in 2002:
| Type | Number |
|---|---|
| Single Houses | 44 |
| Housing Developments | 4 |
| Commercial | 40 |
| Agricultural | 48 |
| Forestry | 34 |
| Total | 170 |
In 2002, the Environmental Services Section set up procedures with the Forestry Services and Coillte to work more closely with them to minimise water pollution from their activities.
Enforcement
A large number of pollution complaints including water, waste, air and noise were received in 2002 and they were dealt with on a priority basis based on the potential risk of pollution from the activity or incident. Pollution incidences are dealt with under the LG (Water Pollution) Acts, 1977 & 1990,the Air Pollution Act, 1987 and the Waste Management Act, 1996. The following is a summary of the complaints dealt with in 2002:
| No Investigated | No of Legal Notices Issued | Number Resolved | % Resolved | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 42 | 6 | 27 | 64 |
| Air | 59 | 0 | 59 | 100 |
| Waste | 16 | 3 | 14 | 88 |
| Total | 117 | 9 | 100 | 85 |
Air Pollution
2002 saw a dramatic increase in incidence of ‘backyard’ burning. This was tackled via newspaper articles, radio interviews and advice letters to offenders. See table above.
Education
A number of publicity and educational initiatives took place in 2002 relating to pollution control, including the following:
- Talks/lectures to IFA groups
- Presentation of an Environmental Information Desk in Sligo Arcade during Science week
- Local newspaper articles
Environmental Science Laboratory
Under the LG Water Pollution Acts 1977 & 1990, the EC (Quality of Water intended for Human Consumption) Regulations, 1988 and the EPA Act, 1992, (Urban Waste Water Treatment) Regulations, 1994, Sligo County Council are responsible for the monitoring of all the County Council’s public water supplies, urban waste water treatment plant discharges and industrial discharges. The Council also sample and analyse private wells for the Rural Water Programme. The Council’s water abstraction points are monitored in accordance with the EC(Quality of Surface Waters intended for the abstraction of drinking water) Regulations, 1989. Under the LG (Water Pollution) Act, 1977, (Water Quality Standards for Phosphorus) Regulations, 1998 and the EC (Quality of Bathing Water) Regulations, 1988, Sligo County Council is responsible for ensuring adequate monitoring of rivers, lakes and bathing waters.
In 2002 the sampling was carried out by the County Council with the EPA carrying out some monitoring on an agency basis for the County Council. The samples were analysed in Sligo County Council’s Environmental Science Laboratory. The following is a summary of the sampling and analysis which took place in 2002 by or on behalf of the County Council:
| Samples Taken and Analysed | Number |
|---|---|
| Public Water Supply | 153 |
| Raw Water Supply Source | 20 |
| Private well Tests | 30 |
| Urban Waste Water Treatment Plants | 398 |
| Industrial Discharges | 34 |
| Rivers | 346 |
| Lakes | 158 |
| Beaches | 52 |
| Landfill | 3 |
| Miscellaneous | 119 |
| Total | 1313 |
Blue Flag Beaches
Sligo County retained its Blue Flag status on both Rosses Point beach and Enniscrone beach in 2002, and won back the Blue Fag status on Mullaghmore beach after a two year lapse. The Mullaghmore bathing water quality results for the 2001 season met the Blue Flag criteria standards to enable the Blue Fag to be awarded to Mullaghmore for the 2002 season.
The table below presents the percentage of samples complying with the standards under the EC (Quality of Water intended for Human Consumption) Regulations, 1988, for all public water supplies in County Sligo:
Waste Management
The target in 2002 was to progress with the implementation of the Connaught Waste Management Plan, adopted in September 2001.
Reduction in Waste to Landfill
In February 2002, the collection of domestic waste was privatised in Sligo Borough. Under the guidance of the County Council, a ‘pay per bag’ system was introduced by the private operators. The change from the ‘flat charge’ to the ‘pay per bag’ system created an awareness of what was going into the domestic bin and encouraged householders to use the alternatives available i.e. home composting and Recycling Bring Banks, thus reducing the domestic waste sent to landfill. The following is a comparison between the tonnages of Sligo waste sent to the Ballina landfill in 2001 and the reduced tonnages sent in 2002:
| Public Water Supply | Aluminum | pH | Total Coliforms | Faecal Coliforms | Iron | Manganese | Colour | Uranium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lough Gill | 100 | 100 | 87.5 | 100 | 87.5 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Lough Talt | 100 | 100 | 83 | 97 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Lough Easkey | 82 | 91 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| North Sligo | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 29 | 86 | 86 | 100 |
| South Sligo | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 86 | 86 | 100 | 100 |
| Riverstown | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Kinsellagh | 100 | 100 | 73 | 100 | 64 | 82 | 73 | 100 |
| Calry | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 83 | 100 | 100 |
Note: Figures are not available for the first quarter of 2001. The above figures do not include waste which may have been sent to an alternative landfill.
Recycling
At the end of 2002, there were 33 bring bank stations located in Sligo town and county. This increased from 14 in 2001. All 33 stations accepted clear, brown and green glass and aluminium cans. 29 of the 33 stations accepted plastic bottles. This was a new initiative introduced in 2002 which proved very popular. It worked very well in County Sligo but capacity was a problem in the Borough due to the high rate of plastic recycling in the town. A total of 66 tonnes of plastic bottles from Sligo were recycled in 2002.
Waste Disposal Sligo, in conjunction with Sligo County Council introduced a newspaper-recycling depot at their premises at Deep Water Quay, early in 2002.
The glass-recycling rate increased dramatically in Sligo in 2002, with Sligo having one of the top glass recycling rates per head in the country. The table below shows a comparison between the 2002 quarterly glass recycling figures for Sligo and those for 2001.
Capital Waste Infrastructure
Grant Application
In May 2002, Sligo County Council applied for the following waste infrastructure under the DOELG Capital Waste Infrastructure Grant Scheme:
- Expansion of Bring Bank Network
- Recycling Centre, Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo
- Green Waste Composting Facility, Union Quarry
- Feasibility Study for Biological Treatment Plant
In November 2002, the County Council were notified of a grant allocation for the capital cost of new bring bank stations.
Waste Regulation
Sligo County Council, under the Waste Management Act, 1996, has a responsibility for the regulation of waste facilities and waste activities, and the enforcement of Regulations made under the Act. In 2002, Sligo County Council began work on enforcing the Waste Management (Packaging Regulations), 1998. These Regulations require all producers of packaging to separate the packaging waste produced on the premises, and make it available for separate collection by a recovery operator.
An information pack and waste questionnaire was sent to 220 Packaging Producers. Over 50% of the questionnaires were returned. All returned questionnaires were analysed and followed up as appropriate. Packaging producers were supplied with a list of collectors, permitted to separately collect packaging waste for recovery.
All complaints relating to the Plastic Bag Levy were investigated and resolved.
Mayo County Council, the issuing Authority for Connaught for the Waste Collection Permits, issued 150 Waste Collection Permits in 2002, under the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations, 2001. Most of the permits are valid in Sligo and Sligo County Council had an input into all applications received in which Sligo was an operating county.
Environmental Awareness Campaign
The Environmental Awareness Campaign focuses on education and awareness initiatives within the County. From small beginnings it has now become a significant strand of the environment section. As in 2001, the main focus is on greater awareness in the area of waste management. Encouraging waste avoidance, reduction, reuse and recycling are the main priorities of the Environmental Awareness Office along with the ongoing promotion of the home composting. In 2002, 27 presentations were made on waste management, recycling and composting to community groups. Composting demonstrations and methods of diverting domestic waste away from the landfill are the most frequently requested topics at such open meetings.
In 2002 the EAO made 31 school visits promoting better waste management and encouraging schools to sign up to the Green Schools Programme. To date 18 schools are registered with 9 new comers in 2002. Four schools have successfully passed through the programme with three of these flags awarded in 2002.
To encourage busy primary and secondary school to become involved in the Green Schools Programme the Awareness Office has also developed a framework of financial and resource materials. Schools that work towards a green flag receive free materials, information on aspects of the environment and assistance in running action days. The Awareness Office also ran promotional events to coincide with five National Campaigns.
National Spring Clean
During the month of April 2002 over 70 clean up events took place in county Sligo. Most of these events were prompted by the Countryís largest anti-litter initiative ñ National Spring Clean and most were supported by both An Taisce and Sligo County Council. The Awareness Office took part in approximately 8 events and distributed supplementary clean-up materials to many groups as well as paying for the disposal of collected material.
National Recycling Week
As part of National Recycling Week (Oct. 2002) the Awareness Office organised a weeklong temporary recycling facility for white goods, fridges, freezers, scrap metal and other large items. A nominal fee was charged on large items and the public came out in force to correctly dispose of these difficult items. The facility was such a success the Awareness Office hope to make this an annual event.
Green Christmas Campaign
With advertising support from Repak Ltd. Sligo County Council held its first Green Christmas Campaign where a variety of seasonal packaging/materials are collected for recycling ñ these included Christmas cards, trees, wrapping paper, cardboard, calendars, telephone directories etc. This is now an annual event which is greatly appreciated by all users.
National Tree Week
Local Authorities support the Tree Council of Ireland during this week by distributing native species of trees and organising planting events in respective counties. In total over 300 trees were planting in 2002. School talks were also given by the EAO on the value of our Native Trees.
Blue Flag Programme
2002 saw An Taisce’s Blue Flag Beach Programme in operation for 15 years. To mark the anniversary of this occasion the Awareness Office organised a ‘Children’s Discovery Day’ on Rosses Point Beach (July 27th 2002). Activities included ñbeach search, a discussion on shells and other beach creatures, a quiz, a beach sweep, facepainting and raffles. Children were asked to wear blue to mark the day. Refreshments were also supplied and despite the windy day - good fun was had by all.
As part of the open local government scheme the communications office invite secondary school students into County Hall for the purpose of seeing how local government operates. These sessions have been a great opportunity for the awareness office to promote their environmental messages. As a result of these talks some schools have signed up to the Green Schools Programme.
The Housing Section of Sligo County Council also offers an opportunity for environmental promotion through it’s pretenancy courses. New tenants are informed of environmentally friendly practices as they take up residence in new homes.
In February 2002 ‘environment week’ was held in co-operation with North West Radio FM. During this week the Environment Awareness Officers from Sligo County Council, Sligo Borough Council and Leitrim County Council discussed different aspects of the local environment. Radio environment week helped raised the profile of many of the difficult environmental issues facing Local Authorities, i.e. litter and illegal dumping. Many of the topics discussed during radio week require a higher level of public awareness and participation. Talking about these subjects over the airwaves helps achieve this aim. One of the most important and useful tools for environmental awareness and promotion is the use of local media. With two weekly publications in Sligo regular press releases relating to environmental issues are published. These are aimed at promoting events and recognising the work of communities who take action on environmental issues.
