
Residents in the Emyvale area of north County Monaghan have seen first hand the impacts of drinking water source protection efforts, with the contribution of Glaslough Tyholland GWS helping to achieve positive changes in water quality status.
Glaslough Tyholland GWS (GTGWS) is one of the largest group water schemes in County Monaghan and is approximately 40 years old. It supplies nearly 1000 members and the villages of Glaslough and Emyvale (both Uisce Éireann). The scheme source is surface water abstracted from the adjacent lake, Emy Lough, with the intake and treatment plant located on the southern lakeshore in the town land of Derrygasson Lower which supplies water to the treatment works at the lough. The catchment is 47km2, containing the Mountainwater river which feeds into Emy Lough. The river starts on Sliabh Beagh SPA/NHA bog, then flows through a mix of forestry and farmland.
Catchment pressures
Like many surface water sources in the region GTGWS has a range of pressures in its catchment. These include: sedimentation, forestry & organic matter and nutrification. There are also specific human pressures, such as excessive pesticides usage, malfunctioning domestic wastewater systems and urban run-off.
The river's waterbody Water Framework Directive Status (WFD) 2013-2018 saw a drop in quality of the mountain water catchment, so Glaslough Tyholland GWS started a programme of surveys and raw water testing to find what was causing this decline and the areas affected. Nutrification from phosphorus run-off, cattle/sheep entering the watercourses and MCPA were quickly identified as the main problems.
Partners
By partnering with the River Blackwater Catchment Trust and the NFGWS source protection staff, there were major benefits in helping the GWS understand the pressures and risks. This led to a number of mitigation actions, including:
• Creating riparian buffers zones,
• Fencing off streams/river, with alternative drinking water for livestock,
• Rush treatment service.
Over a period of four years, a total of 18kms of fencing, with associated riparian planting and drinkers have been deployed in the catchment. Utilising funding from LEADER, LAWPRO and the DAFM-funded NFGWS Source Protection Project, the GWS engaged with over 50 farmers to deliver the mitigation measures. This farmer engagement has given the staff of GTGWS the opportunity to investigate each farm and evaluate what issues could cause problems and the solutions required. The aim now is to use the new “Farming for Waters” European Innovative Partnership (EIP) project to help fund bespoke measures for each farm.
Working together to improve water quality
Following the latest third WFD status review, the GWS received the great news that the “High” status areas have returned and the rest or the river has gone to 'Good status.' The farmers have been rewarded, with access to the higher paying ACRES CP scheme. The farming derogation has also been maintained in the catchment. This was all down to the community all working together to improved water quality.
GTGWS has enjoyed presenting its source protection measures to other groups and bodies. A recent visit by Minister Andrew Muir (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs NI) to see how these actions could be replicated in the catchments around Lough Neagh was a key highlight for the group water scheme.
Harnessing research opportunities
The GWS is currently working with Galway University’s AQUA-MAN project. This project looks at the impact of manganese on drinking water and how it can be mitigated. GTGWS is also partnering with Trinity College and the NFGWS on the TRACE project. It aims to increase the resilience for the water energy climate nexus in rural communities in Ireland.
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.