Irish Water Quality Under Pressure Tydavnet GWS showcase Knocknagrave

Algal Blooms In Irish Lakes: The quality of waterways across Ireland has dropped over the decades and this summer has seen a raft of freshwater lakes closed to bathing due to algal blooms: the algae can cause serious sickness in humans. A combination of domestic, agricultural and industrial effluent has combined to increase nutrient levels in our lakes leading to the blooms of blue/green algae. In August 2023 Monaghan Co Co reported poor water quality in two well-visited bathing lakes as testing showed high levels of E. coli in both Lough Muckno (Blayney) and in Creevy Lake (Carrickmacross). Up-to-date testing results are available at https://monaghan.ie/environment/bathing-waters/ The picture above is particularly apt in this context and it pulls no punches in portraying how humans coevolved with nature but now threaten its very survival. Thankfully we can take many simple steps to reduce our impacts on nature and our waterways and hence make our drinking water better.

Tydavnet GWS at Knocknagrave: The stakeholders at Tydavnet GWS need to be lauded for investing their reserves into developing a unique educational resource at the former national school. As well as being the GWS administrative centre, the centre hosts educational tours for school kids allowing them to learn about how water is treated and distributed in a lively and interactive way. The grounds at Knocknagrave have been turned into a haven for wildlife and the addition of pond and wildflower meadows gives people a chance to see the measures they can take in their own gardens or farms to boost both biodiversity and water quality. Energy-efficient technologies such as heat pumps, mechanical heat ventilation, solar panels, and rainwater harvesting are all showcased at the centre.

A Cross-Border Effort: Tydavnet Group Water Scheme run innovative schemes to engage school children which helps spread awareness. They worked with 9 schools north and south of the border to deliver an environment conservation project on Sliabh Beagh blanket bog. Schools such as Knockatallon, St Patrick’s Augher, Knockconan and Edenmore had a four-hour trip to the mountain in 2022 to visit the peatland habitat of Sliabh Beagh and gather evidence for their school projects in the form of photos, sculptures, maps, stories, poetry, and pictures. The whole Sliabh Beagh schools project is linked to curriculum areas, and is very valuable learning in relation to the link between the bog, water supply, and climate change. The project was supported by the INTERREG VA programme managed by the SEUPB. But it’s not only children that are learning. Recently a group from Transition Monaghan visited the centre and were hosted by the knowledgeable Sean Clerkin. Call the Tydavnet GWS Office 047 89389 to see if they can accommodate a visit from your group.

Where to Next? Increased pollution in the water sources that feed our drinking water affect the quality and cost of water delivery to every home in Ireland. Therefore simple projects such as ensuring cattle can’t access waterways, spreading slurry far from rivers and streams, reducing the use of herbicides, improving domestic and local sewage treatment services can all help reduce the deterioration.