The Cabinet has endorsed a novel nationwide water action strategy with the aim of combating increasing pollution in rivers and lakes, mitigating the frequency of flooding and enhancing nature conservation efforts. This plan supersedes the previous method of effecting river basin management schemes. Under the last initiative (covering 2018-2021), a depreciating trend was noted with 428 out of the set 726 bodies of water not showing expected enhancement.
This new strategy earmarks a significant shift for farmers and proprietors as it paves the way for amendments to the contentious 1945 Arterial Drainage Act. The legislation will undergo amendments to effect a shift in flood management tactics, ensuring compliance with the EU water framework directive (WFD). Expectantly, this will curb pragmatic drainage actions.
Malcolm Noonan, Minister of State for Heritage expresses “The essentiality of reforming this obsolete legislation to combat flooding, restore nature and enhance water quality, cannot be overstated. It’s a hard-earned Green Party initiative that has garnered governmental backing in this new water action plan”
The strategy posits to allow rivers flow freely, repair their natural ecosystem functions and increase investment in nearby water infrastructure – most notably, wastewater treatment plants constructed by Uisce Éireann. It also includes plans to remove obstructions along rivers impeding salmon and lampreys’ natural spawning cycle upstream. Implementing such changes will necessitate the establishment of new governance structures engaging farmers, local communities, NGOs and industrial entities.
The plan calls for the extension of the agri sustainability support and advice programme (ASSAP) and the local authority-level water programme (LAWPRO). Furthermore, every year, the EPA will issue a progress report on the improvement of water status. Seemingly, local authorities will gain over 60 new enforcement personnel to perform 4,500 farm checks annually.
This new plan outlines a blueprint towards restoring 300 of Ireland’s water bodies to ‘good status’ or higher and protecting them from further degradation till 2027. This will call for approval of 46 catchment management work plans, targeting principal rivers, lakes and coasts.
As for nitrates, stricter controls will be put in place for the timing and methods of fertiliser application, with a reduction in the amounts that can be spread on grassland. Moreover, it will stipulate a reduction in “the maximum derogation stocking rate on farms, particularly where water quality is at risk” – meaning livestock numbers will be curtailed.
The upcoming EU legislation on nature rejuvenation provides for the revitalization of natural flood plains, essentially the “sideways flow of rivers”, as a critical measure to increase resilience to climate change. The strategy and pertinent laws are expected to be disclosed in September.