And Kerry County Council director of services, Oliver Ring, has warned that, depending on climate conditions, the pollution problem could develop to a full bloom.

"The levels of phosphate in Killarney s lakes is currently elevated and if weather is settled and sunny for a period the problem could escalate," Mr Ring told The Kingdom on Monday.

"It is very much a touch and go situation and although the bloom is currently not significant, the danger might still occur," he remarked.

Mr Ring appealed to people living in the Lough Lein catchment area to be aware of their activities, with a particular emphasis on local farmers.

He asked that farmers in the area would be especially careful with slurry spreading, fertilisers and waste matter near waterways that lead to the lakes.

Kerry County Council has been working on minimising phosphate inputs into the Killarney lakes for a number of years and levels had been reducing, according to Mr Ring.

"Nothing else can be done to prevent the problem except to reduce these inputs so that the balance is not tipped," he added.

Killarney s lakes were seriously affected by the blooming of algae last May 1998.

The situation develops to dangerous levels by the out of control growth of algae.

When it dies off it sucks up the oxygen in the lakes, which is vital for the survival of the lake s aqua life.

And following the high-profile Munster Lake Championship Finals in Killarney last Sunday, anglers will be particularly concerned about the lakes condition.

There is also the possibility that a blue green toxic type of algae forms and when this species dies it is potentially poisonous to animals and humans.

In the past, Kerry County Council has had to erect signs to warn people not to swim or drink from the lakes and to keep animals away from its waters.

And fears have been expressed that the latest worrying development could prove detrimental to the tourism industry in Killarney.

 

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