Urgent action is essential to protect and prevent further deterioration of Galway’s inland and coastal waterbodies, The Water Forum has warned.

But the body has welcomed the inclusion of its recommendations in the Water Action Plan published last week by the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage — it sets out actions to be implemented between now and 2027.

“The Plan provides an opportunity for action to protect water quality, prevent further deterioration and bring good status back to County Galway’s rivers, lakes and coastal waters,” the Water Form said in a statement.

The Plan has made a commitment to develop 46 Catchment Management Plans, one for each major catchment in the country. Five pilots will be carried out initially — one of them in the Galway Bay catchment area.

The pilot process is to identify the measures needed for water quality protection and improvement and the structures and supports for action to achieve water quality outcomes.

“The catchment management planning process will be particularly important in Galway as it will allow for collaboration between responsible agencies to address the specific pressures in Galway’s inland and coastal water bodies.

“Communities and stakeholders are encouraged to engage with the Local Authority Waters Programme to find out more about the catchment management plans and to get involved in water protection projects.

“Community Catchment Fora will be set up to provide an opportunity for groups and individuals to participate in projects to protect rivers, lakes and coastal waters,” added the statement from The Water Forum, which has 27 members from a wide range of organisations and sectors with an interest in water issues,

According to the EPA catchments.ie website, hydromorphology (drainage and channel alterations) is the biggest pressure in Galway, affecting 25% of at-risk water bodies, while agriculture is the biggest pressure in 21% followed closely by human impacts a pressure on 19%.

Urban wastewater, forests, peat extraction and domestic septic tanks are the biggest pressure on between 5.5% and 8% of at-risk waters.  Lesser pressures such as industry, aquaculture and invasive alien species also cause issues.

Dr Matt Crowe, Chairperson of the National Water Forum said: “Drinking water comes primarily from local rivers and lakes, so it is imperative that water pollution is eradicated to protect public health as well as the health of the environment.”

He added that since land management and agriculture was the biggest pressure on inland waters and consequently transitional and coastal waters, the increase in support for the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) was very welcome.

“Through this programme, advisors are available to help farmers Identify actions they can take and the supports that are available to improve water quality in local areas. The Farming for Water, European Innovation Project will also provide €50m in funding for specific on farm measures for water quality outcomes.

“The ‘Blue Dot’ Catchment Programme, aimed at protecting Ireland’s highest quality waters, can assist with protecting Galway’s twenty-seven precious high-status rivers and lakes and potentially restore others to high status.”

For anyone interested in learning more about their local water quality, the website www.catchments.ie provides a wealth of information on water management. Information on getting involved with protecting local water bodies is available from the Local Authority Waters Programme at www.lawaters.ie.

Pictured: The Lough Corrib catchment area is the biggest in County Galway.