Tipperary councillors worry that farmers will get the blame for Irish Water’s problems

Councillors at the recent Nenagh Municipal District meeting were joined by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) for an update on local water quality as well any of their recent activities.

LAWPRO started their presentation by sharing that water quality in the area is down to only 33% satisfactory levels down from 61% satisfactory from the previous period. They described this as a “massive drop in a short period of time.”

They went on to explain that Lough Derg itself has gone from having ‘poor’ water quality to ‘moderate’ but that tributaries around Nenagh have gone from being a mix of moderate and ‘good’ to being mostly ‘moderate’ and in some cases down to ‘poor’.

Cllr Seamus Morris was first to respond to this saying “the Nenagh river is one of the most polluted in the area. Every year we have great conversations about fixing it but nothing seems to happen.

“Town rivers are not included as part of the national drainage meetings but the Nenagh and Clareen Rivers need drainage committees.

“We have plenty of unmonitored discharge pipes going into the Nenagh river and the only people that seem to know what’s going on in the river or even look after the river are the local people whose land is on the river.”

Cllr Michael O’Meara followed this point up saying: “We have seen a huge sea change recently in farmers wanting to embrace environmental issues.

“Soil testing is a vital part of how farmers can help to protect waters and more could be put toward educating and helping farmers to do this.

“We need to concentrate on the colleges and universities and educating young people who are the next generation of farmers.”

Cllr Ryan O’Meara added “it’s important that we show farmers that we need them and work more collaboratively with them.

“Farmers are already doing a lot and being blamed for a lot and I have major concerns about Irish Water being able to fix our water problems and that farmers will get the blame instead of Irish Water.”

Fran Igoe who is responsible for the South East region in LAWPRO which Nenagh falls under took to the mic next to respond to some of these concerns.

“I agree with Cllr Morris, that the Clareen and Nenagh rivers are hugely important in terms of biodiversity and a lot of fish actually breed in these waters.

“We have no control on these matters ourselves but we do have influence and will take on board all of your suggestions and implement them into our conversations and plans.”

LAWPRO also mentioned that they are funding three best practice demonstrator projects and that they would be aiming to fund more projects that would help to educate communities whilst enhancing the public realm.

They are also working with Government on the Farming for Water campaign which has allowed for funding to help with the provision of rainwater management plans, earthen bunds and tree planting among a range of other measures designed to help improve water quality.