Public meeting announced on water quality in Waterford city

The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), working on behalf of Ireland’s 31 local authorities to protect and restore good water quality in rivers, lakes, estuaries, ground and coastal waters, is holding a community information meeting about water quality and water related issues in the Metropolitan District of Waterford.

Under Ireland’s River Basin Management Plan, LAWPRO works in areas where water quality requires protection or restoration. 

LAWPRO collaborates with other stakeholders in these areas, called Priority Areas for Action (PAAs), to implement targeted water quality improvements.

The community information meeting on Wednesday, March 11, is being held to make more people aware of work to improve water quality in the area and to encourage as much engagement as possible with all stakeholders right across the community, including key agencies, special interest groups, voluntary, public and private sectors.

Details of the meeting are as follows:

• Metropolitan District of Waterford on March 11, 7-9pm, at Dooley’s Hotel, Merchants' Quay, Waterford, X91 P86C.

Over the past number of years LAWPRO has been working in the area as part of the second cycle River Basin Management Plan for Ireland. At the meeting LAWPRO experts will take you through the work that has been carried out in the second cycle and what is being planned for the third cycle Water Action Plan. 

There will also be opportunities for the public to ask questions and talk to members of the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP). The ASSAP is working with farmers in a free and confidential advisory service to help improve water quality. It is a government / industry collaborative initiative, made up of Teagasc and Dairy processor farm advisors with a focus on water quality. Where an agricultural pressure is identified by LAWPRO catchment scientists, the farmers in the area will receive the offer of a free farm visit from an ASSAP advisor. The purpose of the visit is to meet with the farmer and assess the farm for any potential issues that may be having an effect on the water quality in the local catchment. 

Ahead of the public meeting, Anthony Coleman, Director of Services with LAWPRO, said: “As we are coming to the end of second cycle work in the Metropolitan District of Waterford and begin implementation of the new Water Action Plan, we would like to take this opportunity to welcome members of the public to come along and find out more about what’s happening in their local waterbodies and river catchments.

"We hope to engage as many people as possible at this meeting in Waterford City because public participation and support is key to achieving water quality improvements. 

"We would also like to thank all those whether in a voluntary or paid capacity, working in their local areas to help make a difference to their natural waters and the biodiversity that live in and around them.” 

The public meeting will begin at 7pm in Dooley’s Hotel in Waterford and refreshments will be available. All are welcome to attend. To register for the event, visit LAWPRO’s Eventbrite page.

To find out more about the work of the Local Authority Waters Programme please visit: www.lawaters.ie