Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility Algal Bloom on a lake shoreline Module 3: Water Quality...
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Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility www.worldofwater.ie www.worldofwater.ie Algal Bloom on a lake shoreline Module 3: Water Quality Unit 2: How We Got Here
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Transcript of Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility Algal Bloom on a lake shoreline Module 3: Water Quality...
Our Water, Our Resource, Our ResponsibilityOur Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibilitywww.worldofwater.iewww.worldofwater.ie
Algal Bloom on a lake shoreline
Module 3: Water Quality
Unit 2: How We Got Here
Our Water, Our Resource, Our ResponsibilityOur Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibilitywww.worldofwater.iewww.worldofwater.ie
Objective of this presentation
To show that changes in how we live and how we work, as well as in our outlook, have contributed to the deterioration in water quality over recent decades.
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How we got here!
In Ireland, the increase in pollution in recent decades is directly related to a transformation in
the way we live
the production and distribution of food and other consumer goods
the belief that science and engineering can resolve all problems
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Lifestyle transformation
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Human demands drive transformation
Global population requires increase in production
Mechanisation/technology facilitates this increase
Increased production lowers costs while mass media heightens human expectations
Comsumer expectations drive intensification
Intensification threatens the environment
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Lifestyle transformation in rural Ireland since 1950s
Characteristics of traditional rural society:
low impact households
lack of disposable income/few possessions
no running water/no plumbing
self-sufficiency/make-and-do
high labour demand
charms & cures
Characteristics of modern rural society
high impact households
running water/plumbing
disposable income/available credit/consumerism
increased mobility
dependency/detachment from life skills
lotions, potions and cleaning agents
consumption/disposal of medicinal drugs
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Traditional versus
modern house plan
First Floor Plan
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Transformation in the Home – INDOOR PLUMBING
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How modern rural homes impact on the aquatic environment
Indoor plumbing requires:
Water on demand: a consistent supply
An on-site wastewater treatment system or a public sewer connection
As a result:
Water demand has risen dramatically
Wastewater/sewage disposal poses difficulties
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So, how well do wastewater systems work?
Recent surveys indicate problems with
construction of septic tanks
suitability of percolation areas
sludge removal and general maintenance
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What goes down the wastewater treatment system and drains
Household cleaning products, detergents and disinfectants
Left-over pesticides, solvents and paints
Old medicines/antibiotics
Waste oils
Food waste and fat
Besides human faeces and urine, our wastewater treatment systems and drains have to cope with:
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Increasing numbers of one-off housing
Proliferation of one-off housing in County Monaghan
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Year
Nu
mb
er
of
ap
plicati
on
s p
rocessed
by M
CC
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Development Trends (all sectors)
Rapid Increase of Development in County Monaghan
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
1964-1969 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000-June 2008
Year/Decade
To
tal n
um
ber
of
app
licat
ion
s re
ceiv
ed b
y M
CC
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Where we build!
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Where we dump! illegal disposal of domestic waste in vulnerable sites
historic poor siting/management of municipal waste facilities
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Waste Disposal – Case study from old council files!
1965 Village residents found responsible for dumping on farm land
1966-Residents of village petition the Council to have their waste collected, or to have a local dumpsite provided
1967 Small parcel of land purchased for village refuse disposal dump
1971 Complaints of nuisance, rats etc by neighbouring dwelling house of the village dump
1971 The investigating health inspector reported that the site was “not suitable” as a dump
1972 A “more suitable” site was identified away from dwellings
– a local bog!
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Transformation in food production & distribution
Characteristics of traditional farming: low acreage
mixed – tillage/cows/pigs/poultry
the dunghill/rotation/clover
low stocking density
small fields enclosed by hedgerow
light animals
movement of store cattle for finishing
high labour demand/little or no mechanisation
sale of goods at nearest market
low financial return /subsistence
little or no negative impact on water quality
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How and why it changed
1890s, 1910s, 1920s & 1930s - Formation and growth of dairy
co-operatives/creameries- Survival of dairy farming industry
1940s, 1950s & 1960s - Introduction of imported grass varieties - Introduction of artificial fertilisers - Increased mechanisation- Rural electrification- Move to heavier and dual-purpose breeds of cattle- Growth of domestic meat-processing industry- ‘Cheap food’ as a policy objective
1970s, 1980s & 1990s - EEC entry/Mansholt Plan- Farming: from ‘way of life’ to viable business- Emergence of specialisation/intensification- Common Agricultural Policy/Subsidies- Intervention- Field enlargement/‘Improvement’ of non-productive
land- Move from hay to silage production- Over-wintering of stock
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Aspects of transformation in food production
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Intensification of dairy & beef production
Massive increase in milk yield per cow achieved by: improved grassland improved breeds incentives promoting quantity
and quality
Increased herd size specialised milking parlours paddock grazing “a cow per
acre”
Parallel development of beef sector: meat factories and marts ‘part-time’ farming financial incentives
Total Cows 1900-2000
0
10,00020,000
30,00040,000
50,000
60,00070,000
80,000
1900 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1975 1980 1991 2000
Year
No
. o
f C
ow
s
Other Cattle 1900-2000 Co Monaghan
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
1900 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1975 1980 1991 2000
Year
No.
of C
attle
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Intensification in poultry sector
Total Poultry 1900-2000
0
1,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
5,000,000
6,000,000
7,000,000
1900 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1975 1980 1991 2000
Year
No. o
f Pou
ltry
Strong growth since the 1960s.
Concentrated in particular regions
All year round production
High volumes of manure requiring off-farm disposal
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Intensification of pig production
Traditional pig rearing as a by-product of dairying disappears.
Emergence of specialised intensive units in 1970s.
High volumes of slurry/nitrogen produced.
Industry concentrated in particular regions
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Intensification in mushroom sector
Began in late 1970s
Industry concentrated in particular regions
All year round production
High volumes of spent mushroom compost requiring off-farm disposal
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Implications for environment
Waterways as ‘troughs’
Manure production increases
Input of organic/inorganic fertilisers and pesticides
Increase in farmyard water usage/wastewater production
Disposal of slurry
Silage effluent
Off-farm disposal
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Transformation in landscape management
Expansion of hard surface areas
Wetland drainage and infill
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River drainage
Hedgerow removal
Extensive field drainage,
Wetland drainage and infill
Expansion of hard surface areas
The legacy of Joseph Cyril Bamford (JCB)
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Discussion
In a developing economy it is common for environmental safeguards to take second place to the expansion of the economy (The Heritage Council).
