Waters of LIFE

The Waters of LIFE is an EU LIFE Integrated Project (IP) which aims to help reverse the deterioration of Ireland’s most pristine waters.
Learn more about the Waters of LIFE Project here
Farmers Foresters Home Owners Local Authorities Communities Scientists
Farmers
This section provides information to farmers regarding the voluntary pilot Results Based Payment Scheme (RBPS) which forms an integral part of this project.
RBAPS
Results-Based Payments Schemes link payments to the environmental quality of a farm, with higher environmental quality resulting in a higher payment level.
How does RBAPS work?
In traditional RBAPS such as the Burren Project, the Hen Harrier Project and the Pearl Mussel Project, habitat quality is assessed at the field level using a scorecard specifically designed to evaluate key aspects of each habitat.
Expressions of interest
Farmers will be invited to express their interest for inclusion in this project in 2023. Details of the scheme will be published here once finalised.
Foresters
Forestry can impact on rivers in a number of ways including: sediment losses during harvesting or planting operations; changes to flow regimes and physical character through drainage works; nutrient losses associated with decomposition of brash, fertilisation operations or ammonia losses from planted peatlands.
Forestry activities
The project will aim to implement best management practices to mitigate the impacts of forestry on water quality and to demonstrate how the creation of new native woodlands used in combination with undisturbed water setbacks can be used to form permanent semi-natural features to enhance biodiversity and protect water quality.
Useful information
The project will draw from and build on the Draft Plan for Forests and Freshwater Pearl Mussels in Ireland as these are a species that require the cleanest of rivers. You can find more information on the effects of forestry on water quality in this section.
Homeowners
The main source of pollution from houses, particularly individual houses in the countryside, is the septic tank or other domestic wastewater treatment system (DWWTS).
Domestic Waste Water Treatment
DWWTS can release nutrients, organic matter and microbes into the environment which can impact both on water quality, public health and quality of life. Homeowners should ensure that their DWWTS are properly installed and maintained.
Useful information
The EPA provide excellent and comprehensive information and advice to homeowner about all aspects of septic tanks and DWWTS on their website. You can access this content through links in this section.
Local Authorities
The Local Authorities are one of the key authorities responsible for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in Ireland.
Urban runoff
Urban runoff or surface water runoff of rainwater in towns and cities may pick up lots of pollutants along its journey, which can cause pollution in our waterbodies such as rivers and lakes.
Water and Planning Guidance
The Water and Planning Guidance aims to provide practical advice to planning authorities on how the environmental objectives of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) are to be fully integrated into the planning system.
Water Pollution Act
Local authorities have been delegated a number of powers under the Water Pollution Act, which gives them the power to complete a number of actions.
Communities
A key aim of the project is to work with communities to raise awareness of blue dot water bodies and promote their protection and restoration.
River Trusts
River related projects can be carried out by existing community groups such as Tidy Towns Groups or Community Councils and can range from awareness raising, to citizen science, to physical instream works.
Irish Rivers Trust Movement
The Irish Rivers Trust Movement is affiliated to “The Rivers Trust”, which is the umbrella group for Rivers Trusts across England, Wales and Ireland.
Community Enhancement Programme
Arts Council and Creative Ireland: cultural events can be a really positive way of engaging people around environmental issues and demonstrating the links between the different aspects of our heritage and culture. The project team will be organising meetings and community engagement events so watch this space to learn more about how you can get involved.
Scientists
Information will become available here as the project progresses.

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    Lough Dan

    Waters of LIFE is supported by

    European Union LIFE programme

    The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action.  It began in 1992 and has co-funded thousands of projects in the field of environmental protection.

    Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

    The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for ensuring the right policies, regulations and resources are in place to implement the Water Framework Directive. The water division of the Department aims to protect and improve water resources in Ireland.

    Topical information

    Minister Noonan launches Waters of LIFE project

    The EU Waters of LIFE Integrated project was officially launched by Malcom Noonan TD, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform on Friday 29th April in Deebert House Hotel, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick.  The event was attended by a wide range of stakeholders from around the country.

    Following the official launch by Minister Noonan, attendees were taken on field trips in the local area.  The Ballyhoura Development staff led one field trip, which took participants along the Molanna River walk, which runs beside the Keale River from Ballyorgan in Co. Limerick to Darragh in Co. Cork. The second field trip took participants to two unmonitored sites in the headwaters of the River Loobagh to examine the instream biology.

    Learn more
    Minister Noonan launching the Waters of Life project

    Pilot Catchments

    Six sub catchments have been chosen as demonstration catchments for the waters of life project. Measures to address various pressures including hydromorphology, forestry, agriculture, wastewater and other pressures will be trialed in five of these areas, with the sixth acting as a control. With the exception of the control, these catchments have been chosen because they at risk of failing to meet the high status objective that has been set for them under the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2028.

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    Owenbrin-River,-Mayo,-Ailbhe-Douglas

    High Status Objective Water Bodies

    High status surface water bodies are the rivers and lakes with the best quality water.  These waters are home to lots of species that are sensitive to pollution and would not survive in lower quality waters.  High status waters have a natural physical form that has not been changed by human activities e.g. humans have not straightened the river channel or built hard structures to support the river banks.  These waters have excellent water quality with little or no excess nutrients and healthy river beds, free of excess siltation.

    High Status Objective or “blue dot “waters bodies are water bodies which are either currently at high status or have been at high status in the recent past and for which a target of restoring them to high status has been set in the River Basin District Plan for Ireland 2022 to 2027.

     

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    Results Based Agricultural Payment Schemes

    Results-Based Payments Schemes (RBAPS) link payments to the environmental quality of a farm, with higher environmental quality resulting in a higher payment level. All participating land, both private and commonage, is divided into plots which each receive an annual score of 0 to 10 depending on environmental quality. This score determines the payment levels. The quality of watercourses and in the case of private lands – farmyard management, influences the final payment via a whole-farm assessment.

    This puts the landowner, their skills, expertise and knowledge of their land central to the development of this project and creates a new market for the environmental services the landowner provides through their land management.  It provides an exciting opportunity for farmers in the demonstration catchments to realise and be celebrated for the vital role they play in protecting our environment, particularly our high status object rivers. It also provides an opportunity to enhance the resilience of farming communities.

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    Resources

    Project Partners