SEA Environmental Report Appendix III: Non-Technical Summary
3.6 Water The City lies within the catchment of Lee, Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay. 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 WFD surface water status (2013-2018) within and downstream of Cork City is shown on Figure 3.2. 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 7 . The WFD status (2013-2018) of groundwater underlying the City is mostly identified as being of good status, with an area of poor 8 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. Certain areas across the City are at risk from flooding from sources including groundwater, pluvial 9 , fluvial 10 and coastal 11 . There is historic evidence of flooding in various locations across the City, including along the Rivers Blackwater, Bandon and Lee, Glashaboy Estuary, Lee Estuary and Lough Mahon. Existing Problems Subject to exemptions provided for by Article 4 of the WFD, based on available water data, certain surface and groundwater bodies will need improvement in order to comply with the objectives of the WFD. The Draft Plan includes provisions that will contribute towards improvements in the status of waters. There is historic and predictive evidence of elevated levels of flood risk at various locations across the City.
7 The EPA Report (2020) Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2019. 8 Area underlying Waste Facility (W0012-03). 9 Resulting from high intensity rainfall events where run-off volume exceeds capacity of surface water network. 10 Watercourse capacity is exceeded or the channel is blocked and excess water spills from the channel onto adjacent floodplains. 11 Resulting from higher sea levels than normal causing the sea to overflow onto land. Such flooding is influenced by high tide level, storm surges and wave action.
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CAAS for Cork City Council
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