For Corracreigh Group Water Scheme the work of source protection and biodiversity is all about community. The GWS knows the power of community involvement and how engaging people with care, humility and a vision can ‘move the dial’ on the overall impact needed while also building a new comradery between neighbours based on a mutual beneficial purpose.
Its initiatives, such as the ‘Let it Bee’ and ‘I Planted a Tree and My Garden is Pesticide Free’ campaigns, have significantly raised awareness about the importance of protecting drinking water and biodiversity.
2023 GWS Excellence Award
Corracreigh Group Water Scheme was announced as the overall category winner for ‘Biodiversity Enhancement’ by the Minister of State in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), Kieran O’Donnell TD, during a special live announcement at last year’s Rural Water Services Conference 2023. They also received an Excellence Flag Award for their work in ‘Community Engagement’.
The Roscommon group water scheme has been involved in numerous projects to enhance biodiversity, including the ‘Let it Bee’ campaign and the ‘I Planted a Tree and My Garden is Pesticide Free’ campaign, which also increased awareness in the wider community.
These initiatives included providing local farming families with beehives and group water scheme members with wild bee hotels and trees, all aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of pesticides to drinking water and biodiversity. The GWS provides potable water to over 300 members. The progressive scheme is always seeking opportunities to improve its service and water quality for its members. In recent years, it has upgraded over 3km of watermain.
Biodiversity
The GWS has developed its own biodiversity action plan and has implemented this plan through several innovative initiatives, including the planting of a crab apple orchard and other flowering trees at its reservoir site. It has also installed a beehive at the site and planted native woodland trees in other areas throughout the catchment.
Additionally, the GWS is assessing the viability of solar panel installation. As part of its operational practices, no herbicides are used. Instead, wildflowers, trees, and traditional meadows are encouraged, providing more habitats for wildlife such as ground-nesting birds.
National projects
The ‘Let it Bee’ project has encouraged farmers and young beekeepers to get involved with the GWS. Stocked with native black bees, this project injected energy and enthusiasm into the GWS board and staff. All members also received a free bee hotel made by the local training centre, in partnership with the Roscommon Mental Health Services. As part of the ‘I Planted a Tree and My Garden is Pesticide Free’ campaign, every school child in the area was given a native tree. The GWS has also signed up to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.
Speaking after the GWS’s Awards win, its manager, Thomas Rushe said:
'We are very thankful for all the assistance given by Roscommon County Council water section and NFGWS staff — particularly Sean Corrigan, whose enthusiasm for the overall project encouraged us all along the way. A special thanks to Roscommon Galway Mental Health services business manager, Eamonn Hannan, workshop manager, Andy McDonnell, trainees and their instructors, John Bohan and Con Ward, for constructing our bee hotels, which proved such a success in raising awareness among the community and are been replicated on other group water schemes. I think that this proves that when a community joins together for the common good, everyone benefits.'
Community focus
The board and staff are very community focused and school visits are a firm favourite. Led by its board and Thomas, the GWS continues to engage its members and provide the locality with excellent water and interesting initiatives, keeping the GWS at the forefront of its members’ minds.
This article originally featured in the most recent edition of the Rural Water News magazine. To read the full edition and to sign up to our magazine mailing list, click here.
