A report entitled, 'Our Environment, Our Heritage, Our Future', which brings together for the first time detailed information on Northern Ireland's environment has been published. Various Government agencies contributed to the document, which claims significant advances have been made in key areas such as improving air quality and increasing recycling of household waste.
Nevertheless, Friends of the Earth (FoE) have stated that the report highlights some of the key failings in the present system of environmental protection. Campaigner Declan Allison said, "The state of Northern Ireland's waters in particular, leave a lot to be desired. Pollution levels from unmonitored sewerage overflows and poorly maintained septic tanks are unacceptable. Many rivers and lakes are in a poor condition and Lough Neagh is one of the most polluted large lakes on this island."
Moreover, the report raised concern about the deteriorating biological quality of water in Ulster's rivers, lakes, estuaries and groundwater and warning that a strict EU water Directive will be a "major challenge given the current state of our water environment." The report acknowledges that Northern Ireland's lakes have rapidly increasing phosphorous levels which are now almost three times above the recommended European level.
The report says that eutrophication or the presence of high nutrient levels is the biggest threat to the water quality of Ulster's waters.
