LIMERICK people will be given the opportunity to share their views on water quality at two open meetings as part of the public consultation on the draft River Basin Management Plan.
The first meeting for the Adare/Rathkeale Municipal District and the Limerick City Metropolitan Districts will be held online from 7.30pm on Tuesday, February 22 and will include an overview of the national plan and local information on the River Shannon, Lower Shannon and Shannon Estuary catchments.
The second meeting for the Cappamore/ Kilmallock and Newcastle West Municipal Districts will also be held online from 7.30pm on Thursday, February 24 and will concentrate on the Lower Shannon, Mulkear, Deel and Feale catchment areas.
The meetings are being organised by the Local Authorities Water Programme (LAWPRO) and will be followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion on any of the issues raised. There will also be guidance on how to make a submission on the Draft River Basin Management Plan.
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from LAWPRO representatives on the factors affecting water quality in their local area.
A number of pressures are impacting water quality including agriculture, physical changes, urbanisation and waste water treatment. The draft plan also takes account of the impacts of climate change on our water and biodiversity.
There are 4,842 water bodies in Ireland, organised in 46 catchment areas and 54 per cent of all waterbodies are considered to be at risk of not meeting Water Framework Directive objectives by 2027.
The consultation process is currently open and members of the public or interested parties can make submissions online until March 31 at www.gov.ie/draftRBMP.
