TOXIC impacts have been found in several Donegal rivers as the result of inappropriate disposal of spent sheep dip.
That’s according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Hazardous Waste Management Plan 2021-2027.
The Plan sets out measures to improve the prevention and management of hazardous waste such as farm hazardous waste including spent sheep dip; unused and expired medicines; household hazardous waste including surplus paint and the assessment of national infrastructure and capacity.
A section within the Plan on sheep dipping notes issues in Donegal, citing that EPA biological monitoring found toxic impacts in the Finn and Murlin Rivers, where dipping baths were located upstream of the monitoring points in otherwise good habitat catchments.
Sheep dipping is a method of agricultural pest control where sheep are immersed in water containing insecticides.
Donegal County Council has undertaken countywide information campaigns and a Catchment Care project in the Upper Finn Catchment. It centred on education of farmers through surveys and information provided at sheep marts in the area, an instructional video covering a training day on best practice, and a trial on integrated constructed wetlands (ICW) at three dipping bath sites.
Recent monitoring in 2024 has shown improvements in aquatic life in the Upper Finn River and further research is to be undertaken on the effectiveness of the integrated constructed wetlands in 2025.
Last year, a cross-agency forum on the disposal of waste or spent sheep dip was convened, including representatives from the council, the Department of Agriculture, the EPA and other bodies.
It drafted a Code of Practice, disposal, and it’s hoped a professional user register will be set up next month.
Commenting on the report, David Flynn, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Sustainability, said the report highlights a strong case for investment in Ireland’s hazardous waste treatment infrastructure.
“This is needed to ensure highly polluting hazardous wastes are properly and safely managed. Ireland exports half of its hazardous waste for treatment. We cannot continue to rely on other countries to treat significant quantities of hazardous wastes generated in Ireland.”
