More than 30 years ago when I first came to Lough Ree, the Lake of Kings, the waters were as clear as glass. On a sunny day fishermen and boating people could see down 20 and 30 ft into its depths and marvel at the fish swimming over the clean, bright limestone bottom.
I had the joy of seeing pike of up to 30 lb hunt its depths and brown trout chasing fish north of the Quaker Island.
The water was so pure that those who used the lake could take water directly from it to make tea or coffee, and at any place one could swim or bathe.
Last week, near Barley Harbour, I put my arm in the water up to the elbow. I could not see my fingers. The Lake of Kings, the most important geographical, commercial and social feature of the midlands landscape, has become the sump of Ireland.
Last week, too, the local councils agreed that the "No Bathing" signs, erected during the summer when an algal bloom appeared and a number of dogs died on entering the water, should remain.
The years of pollution from towns, farming activity, peat milling and sheer neglect have meant that this beautiful lake is as polluted as any of the mainland European lakes or great rivers.
The visitors still flock there and spend time and money on hiring cruisers to motor up and down the waterway. Many of the German and Dutch people I met recently, who once knew a better time, will not be returning.
Why should they? For instance, 140 anglers took part in three competitions on Lough Ree over three weeks at the end of July and only one pike was caught.
Why should they risk getting body rashes if they fall in or are foolish enough to swim in the lake? What use is free coarse fishing when there is nothing to catch?
And it is not just Lough Ree which has problems, especially from phosphates. A recent report to Westmeath County Council for presentation to the Environmental Protection Agency found the water quality in the following rivers unsatisfactory: the Boor, Breensford, Brosna, Castlejordan; the Deel downstream from Cummer Bridge, Gageborough; the Inny from Finnea Bridge to Lough Derravaragh; Moate Stream, Moanaghanston; Rivers town down to Riverstown Bridge; Shannon, Stonyford; and Yellow River, downstream of Castlepollard.
Many of those rivers flow into Lough Ree. During a recent meeting of Westmeath County Council, some of the councillors were anxious to spread the blame to adjoining counties.
Those representing the farming community were adamant that the farmers should not be blamed for the water quality. But the most positive outcome of the meeting was the acceptance that putting a plan in place to reverse the damage was urgently needed.
Early next month another report on the lake's water quality is expected. This will be different because it will identify the polluters. It should enable the Fisheries Board and the Environmental Protection Agency to move against the polluters and make them pay for the restoration of the lake, which belongs to all.
The only comforting thought is that it could once again become the Lake of Kings. That is the view of an environmentalist, Cathryn Hannon, who said last week that with care the lake could recover its former glory. However, such a programme would take money and planning.
Cathryn, who lives on the shore of the lake in Co Roscommon, is familiar with its problems. "Given the right conditions, the lake could recover in 10 years and it would be quite simple for this to happen if the right moves are made now," she said.
Farming activities, especially the spreading of slurry and artificial fertilisers, caused most damage to the lake, especially in the summer months.
"I believe that a phosphate-free zone should be established around the lake and its tributaries so that there is a buffer zone to prevent a run-off of these materials into the lake," she said.
She suggested that this buffer zone should be 50100 metres from the lake and water courses and that farmers be compensated for complying with these arrangements. "This can be done simply under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme, under which farmers agree to farm in an environmentally sensitive way. Those not in this scheme should be compensated for preserving the buffer zone."
The designation of the lake as a Special Area of Conservation by the Heritage Service was vitally important, she said. It meant the authorities had the right to insist that controls be put in place.
She said Bord Failte should encourage hotels, guesthouses, caravan sites and cruiser operators to use phosphate-free washing powders and other cleaning liquids, or withdraw its support from those which did not.
She was heartened that Roscommon and Longford town waste-treatment plants had installed phosphate-removal facilities. New and existing industries should have to install such facilities and use them, especially in the crucial May-October period when the balance in the lake is delicate.
"If these things are done, and done quickly, the lake will recover. Otherwise we are facing a disastrous situation where 50 to 60 tonnes of phosphates and 10 tonnes of nitrates are finding their way into the lake annually."