• Potential interactions in flood-sensitive areas; and
Potential effects on water quality.
•
Human health has the potential to be impacted upon by environmental vectors (i.e. environmental components such as air, water or soil through which contaminants or pollutants, which have the potential to cause harm, can be transported so that they come into contact with human beings). Hazards or nuisances to human health can arise as a result of exposure to these vectors arising from incompatible adjacent land uses for example. These factors have been considered with regard to the description of: the baseline of each environmental component; and the identification and evaluation of the likely significant environmental effects of implementing the Plan. 3.3 Soil Urban soils (underlying the City Centre) and brown earths 1 (to the north, south and west of the City Centre) are the two most dominant soil types in Cork City. There is an area of peat soil identified in the north-west of the City. There are two Sites of Geological Interest identified within the area of Cork City: Blackrock Diamond Quarry and St. Joseph's Section on Lee Road. Geological Survey of Ireland have identified that most of the City has relatively low levels of landslide susceptibility, with moderate to high susceptibility found mainly along steep river valleys in the centre, north and south of the City. 3.4 Water The City lies within the catchment of Lee, Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay (Figure 1.6). This catchment includes the area drained by the River Lee and all streams entering tidal water in Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay and between Knockaverry and Templebreedy Battery. The main river within Cork City is the River Lee running west to east. Other waterbodies within the City include the Rivers Blackwater and Bandon, Glashaboy Estuary, Lee Estuary and Lough Mahon. The WFD status of sections of rivers within the City is classified as moderate (including Shournagh, Owenboy, Martin, Lee and Blarney) and good (including Martin, Glashaboy and Butlerstown). The WFD surface water status (2013-2018) of transitional waterbodies within and surrounding the City is identified as moderate (including Lough Mahon and Lee - Cork Estuary Upper) and good (including Glashaboy Estuary). The Outer Cork Harbour (downstream of Cork City) is identified as being of good status, Cork Harbour is identified as being of moderate status, Lower Bandon Estuary (transitional waterbody) is identified as being of poor status and Cuskinny Lake (transitional waterbody) is identified as being of bad status. The bathing water at Fountainstown (downstream of Cork City) is of excellent water quality 2 . The WFD status (2013-2018) of groundwater underlying the City is mostly identified as being of good status, with an area of poor 3 status underlying Tramore Valley Park to the south of Cork City Centre. Aquifer vulnerability refers to the ease with which pollutants of various kinds can enter into groundwater. The vulnerability of aquifers is classified as being of Extreme or High vulnerability, in most of the City.
1 Well drained mineral soils, associated with high levels of natural fertility.
2 7 The EPA Report (2020) Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2019.
3 Area underlying Waste Facility (W0012-03).
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