§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied with the water quality in Lough Neagh; and what steps are being taken to improve it. [HL4026]
§ Lord Williams of MostynOn the basis of monitoring information gathered by a number of government departments since the 1960s, I am satisfied that water quality in Lough Neagh is being maintained at a sufficiently high quality for use as a potable water supply, to sustain a commercial fish population, and to support a range of recreational activities. However, specific water quality problems, mainly related to enrichment by plant nutrients from agricultural and urban sources within the catchment area of the lough, have been identified. These problems have led to a number of cross-departmental actions aimed at preventing further deterioration and achieving improvements in water quality, where possible. A nutrient control strategy, designed to coordinate activities in this area, will be issued by the Department of the Environment's Environment and Heritage Service by the end of this year.