A Kilkenny-based farm water quality project has been awarded €23,865 in funding from the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO).

'Nore Vision', a farmer-led project aimed at delivering nature based solutions to improve the Nore river's water quality, was one of 54 projects to be awarded funding, under LAWPRO's ‘Community Water Development Fund Open Call 2025’.

LAWPRO awarded a total €1,047,265.26 to local communities and groups who applied for financial assistance to support the delivery of projects and initiatives aimed at enhancing local water bodies and biodiversity, under the scheme.

Nore River Catchment Trust created the project to protect and restore water quality, enhance biodiversity, promote flood mitigation, and improve ecosystem and climate resilience around the Nore river's catchment area across Kilkenny, Tipperary, Laois and Waterford.

The project was founded in 2021 and was designed by environmental consultant, Féidhlim Harty, who tailored the nature based solutions to improve water quality, to each respective farm.

Mark O'Brien's Kilmanagh-based farm served as the pilot project, where a number of natural solutions were introduced to filter greywater run-off from the farm into the river, to act as a "wetland buffer".

Under guidance of LAWPRO catchment scientist, Jim Crooke and Teagasc ASSAP officer, Deirdre Glynn, a series of small ponds and indigenous plants were introduced onto wetland on the farm, to function as natural filtration systems, to great success, reportedly.

The wetland buffer system works by slowing down the flow of run-off from the farm, storing it in ponds which form the habitat for plants which can naturally filter the water.

O'Brien hosted a number of farm visits from farmers interesting in mimicking the wetland buffer initiatives on their own farms, which additionally, prove to be a lot cheaper than concrete storage alternatives.

Nore Vision programme coordinator, Maura Brennan, said: "Nore River Catchment Trust is delighted to receive funding from LAWPRO Community fund to support the replication of the Wetland Buffer Systems on farms in the Nore catchment.

"We are delighted to see farmers leading action on water quality through this innovative project that implements farm level nature-based solutions to protect water quality.

"The initial project was led by farmer Mark O'Brien who forged the way for farmers by developing this wetland buffer system on his farm," Brennan added. 

The funding will be used to expand the scale of the project into 2025, to include the recruitment of additional farms looking to enhance farm water quality and biodiversity.

Three new farmers have since joined the project, however, Brennan hopes to recruit one or more interested participants, preferably from counties Laois or Tipperary.

According to Brennan, this a great time for environment initiatives on farms as there are more and more resources available to schemes such as Nore Vision.

The organisation has just recruited a new Farming for Water EIP community advisor, Conor Cleere, who will be responsible for engaging and empowering local farmers to participate in the Farming for Water EIP scheme.

Minister of State with responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, welcomed this announcement: “This funding, of over €1 million, is an investment in the protection and restoration of good water quality nationwide.

"The Community Water Development Fund provides vital support to the tremendous efforts of local communities and voluntary groups around the country who work hard to raise awareness of their local rivers, lakes, streams and biodiversity.

“Each and every project supported plays a part in achieving our collective goal to improve water quality under the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation,” he added.