More than £17m awarded for cross-border water quality projects

More than £17 million of funding has been awarded to three projects focusing on a cross-border collaborative approach to the management and improvement of water quality in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

The Peaceplus funding is aimed at improving water quality in river basins.

Peaceplus is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and represents a funding partnership between the European Union, the UK and Irish Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive.

A total of £17,703,989.31 (20,984,992.96 euro) has been made in awards.

The projects will enable pilots for nature-based solutions to restore catchments, including implementation of conservation measures, water management measures to reduce run-off, nutrient loss and reducing impacts from flooding.

The projects receiving the funding will be:

– The Protecting Shared Waters Project (7,593,610.07 euro). Led by Northern Ireland Water, this project will involve restoration of peatland in the Murrins, Glenhordial and Glencurry catchments through targeted conservation measures. It will include the installation of an upgraded fish pass at Lough Muckno Weir.

– CALM Project (8,235,387.32 euro). Led by the East Border Region, the project aims to enhance water quality and ecosystem health in cross-border river catchments including Lough Moor, Lagan, Ballymartrim, Upper Sillees, Termon, Monaghan Blackwater, Glyde, Quiggery, Finn Tributaries, Rooting Burn and Lough Navar. One element will be the conversion of slurry into biomethane and digestate for fertiliser.

– FLOW Project (5,155,995.57 euro). Led by the Irish Central Border Area Network, the project will aim to make an active contribution to improved water quality in four cross-border water catchments: Lough Melvin, Upper and Lower Lough MacNean, Cladagh River and the Kilroosky Lake Cluster. The project will also result in the installation of a pilot wastewater treatment facility in Rossinver, County Leitrim.

Stormont Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir said: “As we know, water does not recognise borders and it is only through sustained collaboration and partnership working that we will realise improvements in water quality.

“The three projects are great examples of the work that can be delivered when organisations come together for the greater good.

“They will deliver for our farmers and our communities at a local level here in Northern Ireland and in Ireland as well as piloting an innovative wastewater solution and manure management to produce bioenergy all to deliver nutrient reductions.”

Irish Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne said: “Cooperation is vital to ensure the protection and improvement of water quality in the region.

“The shared approach of these three projects embodies what is needed to improve water quality in a sustainable manner.

“It involves the whole community, from the local authorities to the farming sector, to those in the wider community and schoolchildren.”

SEUPB chief executive Gina McIntyre said: “Strategic cross-border investment can only enhance and protect the environment while strengthening the economy.

“A truly collaborative approach to the management and improvement of water quality in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland is key, so community awareness and education are essential to ensure that everyone can play their part in protecting our environment.”