A need for 'behavioural change' to improve water quality
Ten waterbodies do not meet 'good' water quality status in the East Cork Municipal District Pic: Larry Cummins
Experts have warned that behavioural change is needed as East Cork water quality declines.
The issue was highlighted at a recent public meeting on water quality in the East Cork Municipal District, hosted by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO).
There are 35 water bodies located within the East Cork Municipal District, 21 of which are monitored.
Attendees of the meeting heard from LAWPRO catchment manager of the South West Region, Niamh Rogan, who highlighted that out of the 21 monitored waterbodies, four have a High Ecological Status (HES), 11 were considered ‘good’ status, seven were ‘moderate’, and three were classified as ‘poor’.
LAWPRO’s senior community water officer for the South West Region, Ruairí Ó'Conchúir, said: “Don’t think this is just a farming problem, it's not. There's also recreational issues,” when discussing pressures placed on water bodies.
Water quality can be impacted by several pressures, such as agricultural, forestry, urban run-off, wastewater, rural dwelling, recreational, and drinking water abstraction.
LAWPRO leads the majority of assessments and monitoring of waterbodies within Priority Areas of Action (PAA). Four areas intersect within the East Cork Municipal District, with 11 out of the 35 rivers situated within a PAA.
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The water authority also leads a partnership with Teagasc and Dairy Industry Ireland for the Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP). The programme aims to tackle water issues while promoting sustainable agricultural practices and helping to deliver environmental benefits.
The partnership, which was launched in March 2024 and will run until the end of 2027, collaborates with farmers, researchers, policymakers, and others to co-develop practical, scalable solutions beyond regulatory requirements.
The Farming for Water EIP project is available for farmers in PAAs. Applications are made through the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP), which is run by Teagasc and works with farmers as a free and confidential advisory service to help improve water quality.
The measures aim to ‘break the pathway’ to prevent nutrients from entering waterways, with the only obligatory measure being that farmers must devise a rainwater management plan. Successful applications with a rainwater management plan will receive €250 upon implementation on the farm.
Farmers can choose from a further 43 measures, including establishing buffer zones along watercourses, strategic planting of hedgerows or trees, bunding, silt traps, cover crops, and actions to address pesticide use. Each additional measure implemented will attract extra funding for the farmer.
Advisers will guide farmers to focus on improvements or actions on the farm regarding improved nutrient management and targeted slurry and fertiliser use, land management approaches to reduce nutrient loss and farmyard management practices.
