Chapter 4: Water Use and Biodiversity Impacts

By James O’Donovan

This chapter describes the impacts of agriculture on Ireland’s streams, rivers, lakes and drinking water from a water quality and a water quantity perspective.  It also describes how Freshwater Ecosystems are the most threatened on the planet and outlines some of the impacts on Ireland’s aquatic species and ecosystems.  The chapter concludes by outlining some of the water ecosystem benefits of ecological restoration.