INTERREG Report No 6
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Maritime Ireland / Wales INTERREG 1994-1999 Achieving EU Standards in Recreational Waters November 2001 M.P.Bruen1,J.Crowther2,D.Kay2, B.F. Masterson1, P.E. O’Connor 1,M.B.Thorp1, M.D. Wyer 2. 1National University of Ireland - Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. 2Centre for Research into Environment and Health, University of Wales, Lampeter, Wales. Maritime Ireland / Wales INTERREG Report NO.6 Measure 1.3: Protection of the Marine and Coastal Environment and Marine Emergency Planning Foras na Mara “to undertake, to co-ordinate, to promote and assist in marine research and development and to provide such services related to marine research and development that, in the opinion of the Institute, will promote economic development and create employment, and protect the marine environment”. MARINE INSTITUTE ACT, 1991 Maritime INTERREG Series The Maritime INTERREG Series was established to promote the dissemination of results of on-going INTERREG funded research to the wider marine community. It is intended that the Series will stimulate discussion on the contribution of R & D to the development of the marine sector. Note: Responsibility for information presented and views expressed in the Series rest solely with the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Marine Institute. Further copies of this publication may be obtained from: The Marine Institute 80 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Phone: +353 1 4766500 Facsimile: +353 1 4784988 Website: www.marine.ie/intcoop/interreg/. Maritime (Ireland / Wales) INTERREG Programme- Building Bridges. Maritime Ireland / Wales INTERREG 1994 - 1999 Achieving EU Standards in Recreational Waters M.P. Bruen1, R. Chawla1, J. Crowther3, C.A. Francis4, D. Kay2, B.F. Masterson1, P.E. O’Connor1, B. Parmentier1, J-A. Stokes1, M.B. Thorp1, J. Watkins4 and M.D. Wyer2. With the assistance of: J. Allen1, M. Bradford3, S. Buckley2, A. Cassidy1, J. Clarke5, I. Clewes3, L. d’Auria1, A. Nasr1, Z. Nassrallah1 and C. Scaife1. 1National University of Ireland — Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. 2Centre for Research into Environment and Health, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Wales. 3Centre for Research into Environment and Health, University of Wales, Lampeter, Wales. 4CREH Analytical Ltd., Leeds. 5M.C. O’Sullivan & Co. Ltd, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Maritime Ireland / Wales INTERREG Report No. 6 This study (Contract 246/14/001) was supported under measure 1.3, Protection of the Marine and Coastal Environment and Marine Emergency Planning, of the Maritime Ireland / Wales INTERREG programme (1994 - 1999) administered by the Marine Institute of Ireland and the National Assembly for Wales (Wales) and part funded by the European Union’s Regional Development Fund. ISSN: 1393-9025 Maritime (Ireland/Wales) INTERREG Programme 1994 - 1999 The EU Maritime (Ireland /Wales) INTERREG II Programme (1994 – 1999) was established to: 1. promote the creation and development of networks of co-operation across the common maritime border. 2. assist the eligible border region of Wales and Ireland to overcome development problems which arise from its relative isolation within the European Union. These aims are to be achieved through the upgrading of major transport and other economic linkages in a way that will benefit the constituent populations and in a manner compatible with the protection and sustainability of the environment. The Maritime INTERREG area includes the coastlines of counties Meath, Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford on the Irish side and Gwynedd, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire on the Welsh side and the sea area in between. In order to achieve its strategic objectives the programme is divided into two Areas: Sub-Programme 1: Maritime Development: transport, environment and related infrastructure (59 mEuro) Sub-Programme 2: General Economic Development: Economic growth, tourism, culture, human resource development (24.9 mEuro) The Marine and Coastal Environment Protection and Marine Emergency Planning Measure (1.3) has a total budget of 5.33 mEuro of which 3.395 mEuro is provided under the European Development Fund. EU aid rates are 75% (Ireland) and 50% (Wales). The specific aims of Sub-Programme 1.3 are: to promote the transfer of information between the designated areas. to establish an in-depth profile of marine/coastal areas for conservation of habitat/species. to explore, survey, investigate, chart the marine resource to provide a management framework. to develop an integrated coastal zone management system. to improve marine environmental contacts and co-operation. to promote the sustainable development of the region. to improve nature conservation. Joint Working Group The Joint Working Group, established to oversee the implementation of Measure, consists of 5 Irish and 5 Welsh representatives. Irish representation: Department of the Marine & Natural Resources, Department of the Environment & Local Government, Department of Transport, Energy & Communications, Local Authority and Marine Institute. Welsh representation: National Assembly for Wales, Countryside Council for Wales, National Trust, Local Authority (Dyfed), Local Authority (Gwynedd). This Report series is designed to provide information on the results of projects funded under Measure 1.3. Protection of the Marine & Coastal Environment and Marine Emergency Planning. Table of Contents Overview vii Abbreviations xi 1 Introduction 1 2 Retrospective investigation of relationships between environmental conditions and faecal indicator concentrations 1 2.1 The four north Ceredigion beaches in Wales 2 2.1.1 Data limitations and methods of analysis 2 2.1.1.1 Limitations of microbial data 2 2.1.1.2 Selection of environmental parameters 4 2.1.1.3 Value and limitations of discharge data 4 2.1.1.4 General approaches to statistical analysis 4 2.1.1.5 Multiple regression analysis 5 2.1.2 Environmental conditions during the retrospective study period 6 2.1.3 Enteric bacterial concentrations during the retrospective study period 6 2.1.3.1 Overall summary and comparison of microbial concentrations before and after completion of new sewerage schemes 6 2.1.3.2 Rates of compliance before and after completion of the new sewerage infrastructure 8 2.1.3.3 Inter-relationships between TC, FC and EC concentrations 8 2.1.4 Relationships between microbial concentrations and environmental parameters 8 2.1.4.1 Results of regression analysis 8 i 2.2 Bray beach sites, Co. Wicklow, Ireland 10 2.2.1 General approaches to statistical analysis 11 2.2.2 Enteric bacterial concentrations during the retrospective study period 11 2.2.2.1 Rates of compliance 13 2.2.2.2 Inter-relationships between TC, FC and EC concentrations 14 2.2.3 Relationships between microbial concentrations and environmental parameters 14 3 Faecal indicator sources, budgets and land-use relationships 16 3.1 The study catchments 16 3.1.1 Wales: the Afon Rheidol and Afon Ystwyth catchments, north Ceredigion 16 3.1.2 Ireland: the Dargle catchment, Co. Wicklow 17 3.2 Data collection 18 3.2.1 Wales 18 3.2.1.1 Discharge, rainfall, stream and reservoir level 18 3.2.1.2 Sampling and analysis 19 3.2.1.3 Land use 20 3.2.1.4 Watercourses, drainage divides and topography 21 3.2.2 Ireland 21 3.2.2.1 Rainfall 21 3.2.2.2 Water levels and flows 22 3.2.2.3 Sampling and analysis 24 3.2.2.4 Land use 25 ii 3.2.2.5 Farming in the Dargle catchment 28 3.3 Statistical analysis (Wales) 28 3.4 Faecal indicator organism budgets 30 3.4.1 Wales 30 3.4.1.1 Monitoring sites 31 3.4.1.2 Discharge from riverine source 31 3.4.1.3 Discharge from sewage sources 32 3.4.1.4 River and effluent quality 33 3.4.1.5 Budget results for inputs to the coast near Aberystwyth 35 3.4.1.6 Treatment scenarios 36 3.4.2 Ireland 39 3.4.2.1 Summary of faecal organism measurements 39 3.4.2.2 Budget calculations 43 Stage 1: Upstream sources of indicator bacteria at Bray 43 Stage 2: Additional indicator-bacteria input from Bray 47 3.5 Land use-water-quality relationships 49 3.5.1 Wales 49 3.5.1.1 Potential sources and flow paths of faecal indicator organisms within the Afon Rheidol and Afon Ystwyth catchments 49 Topography, soils and hydrology 49 Land use 49 iii 3.5.1.2 River and stream water-quality monitoring results 54 3.5.1.3 Inter-subcatchment variability in microbial water quality 54 Afon Rheidol (sites 101-104) 54 Afon Rheidol tributaries (sites 105-113) 56 Afon Ystwyth (sites 201-203) 57 Afon Ystwyth tributaries (sites 204-213) 57 Streams discharging to Aberystwyth North beach 58 3.5.1.4 Background to the correlation and multiple regression analysis 58 Lumped catchment modelling 59 Buffer strip modelling 60 Surface flow distance modelling 60 3.5.1.5 Lumped catchment modelling 61 Base flow conditions 61 High-flow conditions 61 3.5.1.6 Buffer strip modelling 63 Base flow conditions 63 High-flow conditions 63 Discussion 63 3.5.1.7 Surface flow distance modelling 64 Base flow 64 High flow 65 Discussion 65 iv 3.5.1.8 Overview of modelling results 65 3.5.2. Ireland 66 3.5.2.1 Correlation of indicator-bacteria concentrations with land-use classification 2 (3 categories) 70 Non-storm events 70 Storm events 71 3.5.2.2 Correlation of indicator organism concentrations with land-use classification 1 (6 categories) 71 Non-storm events 71 Storm events 71 3.5.2.3 Correlation of indicator organism concentrations with CREH land-use classification (8 categories) 73 Non-storm events 73 Storm events 73 3.5.2.4 Buffer strip modelling 73 3.5.2.5 Correlations of indicator-bacteria concentrations with CREH land-use classification of 100 metre