31/05/11
The dry weather has also increased pressure on water resources in terms of water quality, as seen following the recent gorse fires in Northern Ireland.
The Silent Valley Reservoir in the picturesque Mourne Mountains is an important source of drinking water. The dry weather led to gorse fires in the area, and deposits of soot from burning vegetation have affected the water quality of streams that feed the reservoir, resulting in a need for costly additional water treatment.
Once the vegetation is destroyed, the ecology and biodiversity of the area is dramatically affected; a serious consequence is that the soil in the catchment will be more susceptible to erosion in wet weather, further impacting on water quality.
Worryingly, many of these fires seem to have been started deliberately.
