The relationship between agricultural activity and water quality has improved in the last decade, according to Teagasc Head of Rural Economy and Development, Prof Cathal O’Donoghue.

He was speaking today (Thursday) at the Teagasc National Agri-Environment Conference in Tullamore.

Teagasc carried out research examining the relationship between economic, agricultural activity and settlement related characteristics and the quality of water in rivers. The work took into consideration local hydrological conditions utilising spatial environmental attributes such as soils, slope, rainfall and so on.

O’Donoghue noted in his address that a higher density of septic tanks is associated with poorer water quality. He said consistent with existing findings from the EPA and the ESRI, more intensive agriculture is also associated with poorer water quality. However between 2000 and 2010 the relationship between livestock density, cereal production and water quality has improved, so that environmental efficiency has improved.

While there is little difference in septic tank density over the period, he said that the intensity of agriculture has fallen.

The research found that conditioning on hydrological factors such as soils, slope, rainfall etc improves the accuracy of the analysis but does not change the fundamental conclusions. Greater forestry cover was found also to be positively associated with better river water quality outcomes, primarily because forestry is planted in areas of lower activity.

O’Donoghue said that the improvement in the relationship between agricultural activity and water quality is unsurprising given that farmers invested €2.9 billion from 2005-2011 on improving facilities and that there has been an improvement in farm management practices and more efficient use of fertiliser. Significant participation in agri-environmental improvement programmes and compliance with nitrates directives and compliance with cross-compliance measures within CAP.