The Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) has extended the area of waters designated as sensitive to eutrophication under Directive 91/271/EEC, on urban waste water treatment, to cover 80% of the province. The Directive requires water quality and the designation of waters at risk from over-enrichment with nutrients such as phosphrous and nitrogen to be reviewed every 4 years. Larger sewage works must remove nutrients from their discharges, depending on the type of receiving water.
A large part of the region's waters, including the catchments of Loughs Neagh and Erne and some enclosed coastal waters, were identified as sensitive in 1994. The new designations extend to major river catchments like the Foyle, Lagan and Lower Bann, and coastal waters of the Northern part of Strangford Lough. Nitrogen removal will be required at works discharging into the Strangford Lough catchment, and high phosphate levels are a problem in freshwaters. Phosphate stripping will therefore be required at 6 sewage works.
