Council to study water in Denmark
The visit, which commences next Sunday, was yesterday described as an “educational trip” in a council press release.
Nine councillors and five officials will travel to Odense, Denmark to study practices relating to water. A spokesman for the council said: “Following consultation with the Danish embassy, Denmark was selected as a suitable country to visit because of its similarity to Ireland in population, area, length of coastline, urban-rural mix, and climate, as well as its accessibility.
“To implement the EU water framework directive, each member state selected one river basin as a pilot area to ensure that similar practices were applied in all countries; the Danish pilot river basin was Odense.”
The spokesman said the visit was planned as Clare County Council is one of the leading participants in drafting a management plan for the Shannon river basin.
Cllr Patricia McCarthy said: “As the river basin management planning will be closely linked and will influence the County Development Plan in the future, water management planning will have wider implications for the future development of the county.”
Senior engineer Sean Ward said: “In view of the impending need for local authorities to make river basin management plans and their importance for the future of water management, this visit to another country similar to Ireland will give particular useful insights into how Clare County Council should implement the water framework directive.”
Per Lindholm of the Danish embassy said it is delighted that Clare County Council has decided to go to Denmark: “In Denmark we are very much aware of the importance of water treatment, water environment but also how to save on water. Even though water is a natural resource it is not unlimited. I am pleased to say that Denmark is at the forefront when it comes to water issues,” he said.
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