Water Sampling Lough Neagh
[graphic]
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| Summary: | The water of Lough has been sampled on a regular basis by staff from the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland. The gentleman in the orange suit is Tony Fitzsimons, a scientist with the Agriculture and Environmental Science Division. Mr Jim McGarry makes up the remainder of the crew. Jim has either skipped or provided a boatman for the Department's boat on Monday mornings since sampling began in 1968. The object of sampling is to determine the state of the Lough and to assess the effectiveness of measures taken to improve water quality. The Lough sampling is done in conjunction with a sampling programme on the six major rivers which flow into Lough Neagh. Lough Neagh suffers from a process known as eutrophication or enrichment. This means that level of plant nutrients, principally phosphorus, are too high. The high concentrations of phosphorus or phosphates enable large algal crops to develop which often give the water a green colouration and render it turbid. Apart from the presence of too much phosphorus, which is not toxic, and too many algae, the water of the Lough is quite clean and it is the largest source of potable water in Northern Ireland. A programme to remove phosphorus at sewage treatment works brought some improvements in water quality during the early 1980's, but since then phosphorus levels have increased due, it is thought to increased losses of phosphorus from agriculture in the catchment. This photograph shows water being transferred from a Van Dorn depth sampler to a container which will be returned to the laboratory in Belfast. The winch at the stern of the boat is used to lower the sampler to the required depth. |
| In collection: | Our Own Place Photographic Project |
| Format: | Photo |
| Language: | English |
| Published / Created: |
30 Aug 1995
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| Notes: | Project sponsored by RTÉ and Fuji Photo Film (Ireland) Ltd. Film number: U23 ; frame number: 16 Antrim and District Historical Society Photograph taken on 30 Aug 1995. Physical description: 1 photograph ; 15 x 10cm. Geographic Coverage: Lough Neagh, Co. Antrim, Province of Ulster, Ireland. more |
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OOP_U23/16 |
NPA Reading Room - Appt. only |
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Reproduction rights owned by the National Library of Ireland.