The Environment
- Introduction
- Landscape
- the Water Environment
- Agriculture
- Forestry
- Extractive Industry
- Waste Management
- Built Environment
- Open Space & Recreation
- Conservation, Heritage & Culture
4.2 Policy on the Water Environment
Groundwater provides 35-40 % of public water supply. A key aspect of environmental planning is the achievement of sustainable water quality, and the Council has prepared a 'Groundwater Protection Scheme Draft 2002' as a tool to achieve this end. This Plan has identified that 33% of the County is classed as 'extreme' vulnerability.
Lough Derg is a considerable asset to North Tipperary as a source of water, an important amenity and a key landmark.
The Lough Derg / Lough Ree Catchment Monitoring and Management System identified townlands in North Tipperary where a high potential risk of water pollution associated with agricultural activity exists.
Agricultural Bye Laws under the Water Pollution Acts 1997 & 1990 have been introduced in these areas to prevent pollution of waters from agricultural sources. The objective of the bye-laws is to reduce the amount of nutrients lost to waters from agriculture.
The establishment of the River Basin Districts to provide an integrated monitoring
and management system for all waters within the RBD will be addressed as follows:
The DOEHLG in promoting a broadly based catchment management approach to
water quality in line with the Water Framework Directive, which requires a
more comprehensive and integrated approach to water management, has divided
the country into River Basin Districts for the purpose of monitoring inland
surface waters, ground water and transitional and coastal waters.
North Tipperary is divided between two River Basin Districts, The Shannon RBD and the South East River Basin District, which covers the Suir & Nore catchments
4.2.1 Groundwater
4.2.1(i) Geology
North Tipperary is mainly underlain by Silurian to Upper Carboniferous aged bedrock, which is mainly sedimentary in origin consisting of limestone, sandstone and shale. Volcanic bedrock occurrences are few, small and in isolated areas.
The subsoil's of North Tipperary lie above the bedrock and below the topsoil. These vary in thickness, extent and type and therefore the protection offered to the underlying bedrock varies. There has been very little mapping of the subsoil's and therefore only interim vulnerability maps are available for North Tipperary.
4.2.1 (ii) Hydrogeology
Depending on the overall potential groundwater availability, area, permeability, karstic nature and more, the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) has classified bedrock/subsoil's aquifers into three main categories:
- Regionally Important (R) Aquifers
- Karstified bedrock Aquifers (Rk)
- Fissured bedrock Aquifers (Rf)
- Extensive sand/gravel Aquifers (Rg)
- Locally Important (L) Aquifers
- Sand/Gravel (Lg)
- Bedrock which is Generally Moderately Productive (Lm)
- Bedrock which is Moderately Productive only in Local Zones (Ll)
- Poor (P) Aquifers
- Bedrock which is Generally Unproductive except for Local Zones (Pl)
- Bedrock which is Generally Unproductive (Pu)
Groundwater is widely used in North Tipperary, based on County Council records (1998) the groundwater contributed to 35-40% of the total public water supply. The demand is increasing, with 26 substantial public (total abstraction c.11,000 m3/day) and a significant number of private group water schemes using groundwater.
In April 2002 the GSI in collaboration with North Tipperary County Council produced a draft report on "An assessment of the quality of public, group scheme and private groundwater supplies in North County Tipperary". In this report the vulnerability at each public source was determined. Table 4.1 presents the supply name and type, the bedrock aquifer in which it is located and the vulnerability classification type, according to the Geological Survey of Ireland.
Table 4.1: Public Water Supply Schemes
Source Name |
Source Type |
Vulnerability |
Aquifer Type |
|---|---|---|---|
Aglish |
Spring |
H-L |
Rf |
Ballynaclogh |
Borehole |
H-L |
Pl |
Borrisoleigh |
Boreholes (2) |
H-L |
Ll |
Borrisokane |
Spring |
E/H-L |
Ll |
Clonakenny |
Borehole |
H-L |
Pl/Rf |
Cloughjordan |
Spring |
E |
Ll |
Drumbane |
Borehole |
? |
Ll/Pl |
Holycross |
Borehole |
H-L |
Ll |
Littleton |
Borehole |
H-L |
Ll |
Lorrha |
Borehole |
E |
Ll |
Loughmore |
Borehole |
H-L |
Ll |
Moycarky/ |
Borehole |
H-L |
Ll |
Rathcabbin |
Borehole |
|
|
Rieska/ |
Borehole |
E |
Pl |
Riverstown |
Spring |
E/H-L |
Ll |
Roscrea (Glenbeha) |
Spring |
H-L/E |
Rf |
Templederry |
Borehole |
H/H-L |
Pl |
Templemore |
Boreholes (2) |
E/H-L |
Ll/Lm |
Templetouhy |
Boreholes (2) |
H-L/?E |
Ll |
Terryglass |
Borehole |
H-L |
Ll/Rf |
Thurles (Creamery) |
Spring |
H-L/E |
Ll |
Thurles |
Spring |
H-L/E |
Ll |
Thurles (Tobernaloo) |
Spring |
H-L/E |
Rf |
Toomevara |
Springs (4) |
H-L/E |
Rf |
Tullahedy |
Borehole |
E |
Ll |
Two-Mile-Borris |
Borehole |
E |
Ll |
Upperchurch |
Borehole |
H-L/E |
Pl |
Key: Vulnerability - H-L = High-Low,
E = Extreme
Aquifer Type - See Section 4.2.1(ii)
4.2.1(iii) Vulnerability
The GSI produced Vulnerability Mapping Guidelines for the determination of the vulnerability of an area or site. The ratings are based on pragmatic judgements, experience and available technical and scientific information. However, provided the limitations are appreciated, vulnerability assessments are essential when considering the location of potentially polluting activities. Three supplementary publications have been produced in 1999 by the GSI, DoELG and the EPA:
- Groundwater Protection Responses for Landfills;
- Groundwater Protection Responses to the Land spreading of organic waste; and
- Groundwater Protection Responses for on-site waste water systems for single houses.
The vulnerability of the aquifers to point/diffuse pollution is determined largely by the attenuation capacity of the soils/overburden deposits. Further development of agriculture, extraction, industry, etc, may cause detrimental harm to groundwater if unregulated.
North Tipperary County Council in conjunction with the Geological Survey of Ireland produced a Groundwater Protection Scheme (Draft April 2002) to assist in the protection of groundwater in the development process, and this document is an integral part of the County Development Plan.
The Groundwater Protection Scheme maps give a general, but not detailed, indication of vulnerability across the county, but may be used in conjunction with site survey, site specific investigation and site inspection. Approximately 33% of the county is categorised as having and Extreme Vulnerability, with the remaining 67% given an undifferentiated Low-High Vulnerability. The onus is still on the developer to prove a vulnerability category of a site.
4.2.2 Surface Water
At present, there are three surface water abstractions, Newport, Roscrea and Coolbawn. This water is treated for distribution as part of the public water supply.
Unless carefully sited and designed, new development or redevelopment can increase run off from impermeable surfaces such as roof and paved areas, which can result in problems of:
- increased risk of flooding in areas downstream of the development;
- damage to river environments; damage to habitats or river channel stability.
There are a number of solutions to provide more sustainable urban drainage by collection and retention of surface water on site. Artificial lakes and ponds can be created, open space can be flooded during storm conditions, and underground storage tanks can be installed. The objective is to control the quantity of water and the speed of release to nearby rivers.
Policy ENV 4: Surface Water Retention
It is the policy of the Council to promote sustainable urban drainage through storm water retention facilities for new developments and to incorporate design solutions that provide for collection and recycling of surface water.
Policy ENV 5: Groundwater and Surface Water Protection
It is the policy of the Council to seek the protection of groundwater and surface water, and in deciding planning applications that might impact on groundwater or surface water will balance the need to protect the environment with the need for development. Development that results in discharge to groundwater or surface water will be required to secure a discharge licence under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts 1997-90, and must comply with the policy objectives of the Draft Groundwater Protection Scheme 2002.
A licence is required for the discharge of any trade or domestic effluent to surface or ground water other than for domestic sewage discharge not exceeding 5 cu meters in any period of 24 hours, which is discharged to an aquifer from a septic tank or other disposal unit by means of a percolation area, soakage pit or other method.
4.2.3 Water Corridors
Policy ENV 6: Water Corridors
It is a policy of the Council to preserve an undisturbed edge or buffer adjacent to watercourses and to maintain the natural functions of existing ecosystems. In respect of Lough Derg, developments such as private harbours or jetties will only be considered where
- it is for a single boat;
- is within the curtilage of an existing adjacent dwelling;
- is designed to protect the character and appearance of the shoreline and
- is not visibly intrusive.
Private jetties and harbours are becoming a more prominent feature of the Lough Derg shoreline. The council will resist new proposals for private harbours and jetties except where the development is small scale and is designed sympathetically to protect and enhance the visual amenity of the shoreline and lake skyline. However, the Council recognises that there is a need for improved tourist facilities for public use along the shoreline. A key objective of this Plan is the preparation of a Local Area Plan for Western Area of the County and it is anticipated that a more detailed policy will be presented in the Plan.
Policy ENV 7: Water Corridor Amenity
It is a policy of the Council to conserve and enhance the amenity of the shoreline and County river corridors, including the landscape, water environment and wildlife habitats and, where consistent with this, to encourage increased public access and water-related recreation opportunities.
4.2.4 Grease and Oil Pollution
A major problem in collecting both surface and foul water from domestic and commercial development is the amount of grease and oil that is discharged through sewers. Restaurants, commercial kitchens, garages, are all examples of development that create waste oils and grease. The Council will require that all commercial development demonstrate, as part of a planning application, how surface oils, kitchen oils, and other unctuous material will be contained on site and removed through recycling or other sustainable means. Failure to submit such details will delay the determination of an application.
Effluents from restaurants and other food preparation outlets, which, due to their fat or grease content or other such characteristics, could give rise to an additional treatment loading or increased risk of blockages, will be subject to licence.
4.2.5 Flooding
Policy ENV 8: Protection of the Flood Plain
It is the policy of the Council to discourage development within established flood plains. Where development is considered appropriate adjacent to an existing flood plain and would result in alteration of natural drainage systems, the Council will require mitigation measures to minimise the risk of flooding.
The primary aim of this policy is to protect residential and commercial areas from flooding. The first consideration, therefore, shall be the protection of existing flood plains free from development that would add to the risk of flooding.
Policy ENV 8a: Flood Alleviation Measures
It is the policy of the County Council to ensure that development does not increase the risk of flooding, and development in low-lying areas or known flood plains will be required to produce a Flood Impact Assessment to demonstrate that the development will not contribute to flooding within the immediate or wider catchment area.
Specific Objectives:
- To prepare a County Landscape Character Assessment as part of the County Development Plan
- To encourage the use of recycled waters where drinking water is not needed.
- To encourage the use of permeable surfaces e.g. gravel drives etc, to reduce surface water run-off.
- To encourage the use of SUDS techniques, constructed wetland and other natural solutions to reduce the impact of surface water runoff on river and ground waters
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