New rain garden to purify rainwater run-off unveiled in Cobh

The €2m four-year project is part of a national ‘nature-based solution’ pilot project looking at using urban trees and rain gardens to help manage rainwater run-off

Students from Gaelscoile Sheain Ui Eigeartaigh, Bunscoil Rinn an Chabhlaigh, Cobh, St Joseph's National School, Cobh and St Mary's NS Cobh with members of the council, project team and tidy town committee at the launch of the rain garden at East Beach in Cobh today. Photo: Colm Lougheed

A new rain garden designed to capture and purify rainwater run-off from roads and footpaths has been unveiled in a Cork harbour town.

The ‘green drainage system' at East Beach in Cobh will test and monitor the quality of rainwater run-off and special bio-retention soils and plants that have been chosen as natural filters to clean dirty water before it's released into waterways or the sea.