Our ancestral legacy and past have been moulded by the sea, rivers, lakes, and wetlands making it crucial that we take the necessary steps to conserve these vital natural assets. If we consider our watercourses as societal reflections, then we must scrutinise our image and take action to rectify our mistakes.
In response to the worrying levels of pollution observed in various lakes and rivers, the Local Authorities Water Programme (LAWPRO) advocates for the engagement of local communities as a sustainable way to enhance water quality. Essentially, LAWPRO aims to streamline the efforts of local councils and state bodies to foster improved water quality, adhering to the provisions of the EU Water Framework Directive.
At the heart of LAWPRO’s message, principally communicated by its community water officers during the build-up to Water Heritage Day (WHD), is that through mutual cooperation and support, we can truly appreciate our surroundings and proactively safeguard them for future generations.
The WHD celebration comprises numerous activities that spotlight the diverse importance of water for recreational, cultural, environmental and economic aspects, extending from boat trips and river strolls to marine biodiversity sessions and workshops for children.
Enlisting children in water sampling activities can effectively cultivate a respect for clean water in our rivers, coastal areas, and lakes. Cathal Flood, the community water officer for Meath, Westmeath and Longford, asserts that children are already aware of the local councils’ duty to maintain clean water.
Flood views Water Heritage Day as a platform that connects local water body heritage with its conservation, and emphasizes on empowering communities to safeguard their local rivers and streams.
One example of this can be seen in Kinnity, Co Offaly, where children were appointed guardians of their local river to limit pollution levels in the county’s rivers. The Tidy Towns group of Milltown Pass, Co Westmeath, undertook sampling efforts on the Milltown and Kinnegad Rivers in 2023. This endeavour, which revealed high nitrate levels in the water, consequently led to the local council deciding to enhance the water treatment plant in the region.
Having conversations with local farmers about their experiences of swimming and fishing in neighbourhood rivers could be an effective method to revive their appreciation for their water supply, thereby enhancing efforts to keep it clean. Encouraging individuals to explore local water bodies with boat tours also plays a crucial role in fostering a sense of pride in their locality. With a heightened sense of pride, people are more likely to take up any opportunity to preserve their local environment.
In 2023, Herbert Farrell, a principal at the Ballymahon National School in County Longford and an organic farmer, took it upon himself to raise awareness about water conservation during Water Heritage Day. He took a group of people to Inchcleraun Island, or also known as Quaker Island, situated in the heart of Lough Ree on the river Shannon. Farrell’s family has held ownership of this island for many generations and presently, Droimeann cattle and old Irish Lough Ree goats inhabit and graze on the island. The island, home to St. Diarmuid’s monastery remains, can be reached via boat from Barley Harbour in Newtowncashel, County Longford.
Farrell relays the overwhelmingly positive response to the boat trip to the island and expresses hopes of hosting another trip in the upcoming year. This provided individuals a first-time opportunity to experience Inchcleraun. Historically, Farrell’s family maintained a system of rotating cereal crops with grassland on the island. Farrell has now put into place a conservation grazing system to safeguard the biodiversity abundant on the island, alongside testing the local water to verify its quality.
As Flood elucidates, the water quality in Lough Ree is satisfactory thanks to its conservation status. Still, they believe giving individuals the chance to physically visit sites like Inchcleraun underscores the rich local history and importance of appreciating and safeguarding this ecological corridor.
In 2022, Farrell hosted WaterBlitz water sampling events involving schoolchildren, where they compared the water quality of the River Inny, the Royal Canal, and Lough Ree. It was found that the Royal Canal held the cleanest water due to its regulation. Education programs such as this ensure that the coming generation will be better informed about the importance of protecting their local environment.
Water Heritage Day is commemorated on Sunday, August 25th, and you can find out more about what LAWRPO does at lawaters.ie.