Presentation to Environmental Protection Agency NATIONAL WATER EVENT 2 nd July2014. Fran Igoe, IRD DuhallowLIFE

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2 Presentation to Environmental Protection Agency NATIONAL WATER EVENT 2 nd July2014 Fran Igoe, IRD DuhallowLIFE

3 Overview of presentation IRD Duhallow a Rural Development Company LIFE+ Project and actions Community engagement The big picture Integrated Catchment Management

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5 Rural Development Model lends itself to public engagement - continuous contact with the local community -Food delivery service to elderly -Education and learning supports -Focus groups and workshops -Supports for affected groups (e.g. bereavement, alcohol, suicide etc) -Significant voluntary involvement

6 IRD Duhallow LIFE+ project: Restoration of the Upper River Blackwater SAC for the Freshwater Pearl Mussel, Atlantic Salmon, European Otter and Kingfisher

7 IRD DuhallowLIFE+ project target area (Natura 2000 site) On the ground restoration works Project budget: 1.9m ( 1.6m) Duration: 4 years Project promoters: IRD Duhallow Inland Fisheries Ireland

8 Main issues affecting SAC Erosion of river banks Loss of riparian habitat Soil loss due to land drainage Siltation of fish spawning beds and pearl mussel habitat Spread of non-native invasive plants along the river banks Loss of habitat to range of threatened species Siltation of fish spawning bed Siltation of Freshwater Pearl Mussel Habitat Note project did not set out to tackle nutrient enrichment directly-wfd/nitrates Directive Invasive alien plant species

9 29 Project actions in total Action 4 River Bank Erosion

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11 Bank revetment Soft engineering approach 1.Limited rock at base 2.Bank reprofiling 3.Live willow stakes 4.Fence

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13 Same site 2013 Betty Ann Bryce of the OECD receives demonstration of our revetment technique from IRD Duhallow.

14 29 Project actions in total Action 5 Flood Friendly Fencing

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18 29 Project actions in total Action6 Drainage and silt traps

19 ISSUE = Siltation from land drainage Land drainage is a major problem Some drains over 4m deep! Responsible for increased water discharge in wet weather and siltation. Survey found that 75% of drains (n=70) require silt trapping

20 Confluence of a single freshly dug drain into a tributary of the SAC (top) and the SAC adjacent to a FPM bed

21 15 silt traps in 4 drains (inc 2 Glashas). Shown to reduce suspended solids from >1000 to less than 50 Demonstrations give to local farmers Spin off project (LEADER) refining the method further to increase removal of ss. New silt trap design Flow of drain

22 Need to engage stakeholders To get access to land To change behaviours Maximise and bring in resources Worked with partners to maximise output and reduce costs also considerable goodwill/sponsorship Longterm viability of project depends in good buy in

23 Making project directly relevant to key stakeholders Farmers with land adjacent to river are key stakeholders affecting habitat Organised free fishing classes for landowners Great way to generate interest and appreciation of the local resource. Very popular and great buzz

24 Local community monitoring Involve the local community in monitoring Effective way to get people talking and often brings in new ideas Examples; Monitoring of Freshwater Pearl Mussel by Anglers, Sand martins by Duhallow Birdwatch Group

25 Outcomes On practical level; gaining access to land requiring work (22km fencing, 24km h balsam, silt trapping, ~6km tree pruning, 1000 s of willow, ash, alder planted over 8km stretch, bird boxes, otter holts, monitoring, information signage etc) Increasing awareness of local community on importance of SAC. Engagement of landowners on level never before achieved in the area. Great participation by schoolchildren. Increased volunteer activity and learning. Active engagement of farming community

26 Not goes to plan 1. Large scale landscape changes outside the projects control (e.g., large scale clear felling of trees, land drainage or maintenance) ICM a solution? 2. Lack of quality baseline data 3. Licensing (e.g., photographic license, Appropriate assessment, Notifiable actions, FPM survey license, now Local Authority planning required) 4.Delays in being granted licenses - a major headache 5.Enviromental window paradox 6. Differing expert opinion on whether to intervene or let nature take its course 7. Perspective and sense of urgency needed Doctors differ...

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28 Parameter Result CBOD5 COD Nitrate as N Phosphorous Ortho-phosphate as P 742mg/l O2 5950mg/l O2 < 4.8mg/l 23.95mg/l 7.45mg/l

29 Need for joined up thinking Currently dichotomy between certain EU and Govt policies e.g., single farm payment vs biodiversity commitments and EU Directives (WFD and Habitats Directive) Result farmers encouraged forced? into land clearance resulting in environmental damage Incentivised industrial nonnative forestry replacing moorland and people

30 Integrated Catchment Management What is it? A catchment approach. Integration. A change in philosophy. Stakeholder involvement, particularly at local community level. Source: Daly 2013 IAH (Irish Group) Conference Groundwater & Catchment Management, Tullamore, April 2013.

31 River Allow Catchment Management Plan

32 Farmer helps draw down donated Christmas trees and willow to river bank

33 Working with people brings results

34 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS IRD Duhallow LIFE+ has had some success in rolling out practical measures, but to be effective some of these (e.g., silt traps) need to be rolled out at a much larger scale. Stakeholder and community participation is key. Successful protection and restoration of our waters will not be achieved by using the current mainstream approaches. We believe that Integrated Catchment Management is a process that is suitable for Ireland and that is achievable, provided that there is buy-in and it is given a sufficiently high priority and adequate resources.

35 Special thanks Rural Social Scheme participants Inland Fisheries Staff Duhallow Environmental Working Group Kanturk trout Anglers Blackwater Salmon Trust Duhallow Birdwatching Group Mulkear LIFE City Analysts University College Cork University College Dublin Mary Kelly-Quinn UCD Waterford Institute of Technology Tralee Institute of Technology Mary Immaculate College/UL Martin O Grady - IFI EPA (Donal Daly and John Lucey) Numerous individual volunteers and advisors Staff of IRD Duhallow Local community and landowners INTERREG IV TRAP Project (SW Regional Authority)

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37 Engaging Citizens Septic Tanks and Private Wells Margaret Keegan Water Event Conference 11 th June 2014

38 What is...citizen Engagement? "Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern. Increasing level of public involvement

39 Why Do It? Better Regulation Good Governance Maximise Efficiencies The right thing to do?! Public Value Reduced Costs

40 EPA engagement with citizens Septic Tanks Private Wells Other EPA awareness campaigns in Ireland

41 Septic Tanks - Background ECJ Ruling against Ireland Requirement to register all systems Septic Tank Inspection Regulations Public consultation Submissions considered in drafting regulations EPA National Inspection Plan for Septic Tanks Draft Plan Public consultation Meetings with relevant stakeholders Final Plan took submissions on board

42 Septic Tank Registration Campaign National Media Campaign - media, leaflets to all homeowners, radio ads etc... Public Objection Carrot reduced rate 5.00 for early registration, grant if registered Stick more likely to be inspected, not eligible for grant More than 90 % registration rate

43 Septic Tanks The Issues (1) Septic tanks if not sited, installed, operated and maintained properly - pose a risk to human health and the environment 500,000 systems in the country However, on a national scale DWWTS are not considered to pose a significant risk to rivers Traditional inspection regime ALONE will not work Suspected causes of pollution at 953 Polluted River Sites Surveyed in (from a total of over 2500 monitoring sites) DWWTS not listed

44 Septic Tanks The Issues (2) Needed to do something different Regulatory approaches to Low Risk Sites and Good Practice Framework (Black & Baldwin) Good Regulatory Intervention Design (GRID) Two strands to the National Inspection Plan Engagement strategies Risk Based Inspections

45 Private Wells The Issues (1) 30% of Private Wells contaminated with E.Coli Ref: EPA Water Quality Report Increasing trend in incidence of VTEC Ref: HSE reports Strong link to private well water Private Wells are exempted supplies Drinking Water Regulations do not apply. 170,000 private wells according to the CSO. Do not know where they are and cannot inspect them

46 Private Wells The Issues (2) Need to inform the well owners of the risks Change in attitude from pure well water Improve source protection, well construction Regular testing Treatment, if necessary

47 Purpose of Information Campaigns Target rural communities with septic tanks and/or private wells Raise awareness and inform them of issues that directly affects them but they may not know about Deliver in partnership with others Communicate with the stakeholders whose members are directly affected by septic tank and private well issues Improve channels with stakeholders to get message out to the public Creating awareness and enabling behaviour change

48 EPA resources Website Web Application Infographics Posters Videos Social media (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube) TV (e.g. Eco Eye)

49 Communications Tools (1) Web App Self assessment tool highlighting main risks Multiple choice answers Tailored report based on answers to questions General stats gathered by EPA to assist future work on private wells (no personal or location data collated) Multiple platforms

50 Communications Tools (2) Animations How a Septic Tank system works? What to expect from a Septic Tank inspection? (English and Irish) Private Wells What you can do to make sure you well water is safe (English and Irish)

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52 Reaching audiences Working with others In partnership with local authorities Environmental awareness officers deliver messages to schools and local communities Leaflet distribution to all offices, libraries etc. Placing the posters in public places such as libraries, art centres etc. Changing screensaver and background messages on public PCs in libraries etc. Example - Clean Water is Vital for your Health. Is your Septic Tank a risk?

53 Reaching audiences Working with others In partnership with health professionals Joint Press release with HSE on private wells HSE Spokesperson Dissemination of information through Environmental health officers General practitioners Public Health doctors Posters and leaflets in GP offices, health centres etc.

54 Reaching audiences - Working with others Organisations with same message GSI An Taisce Organisations with same target audiences Farming organisations Environmental NGOs Professional Organisations Industry Bodies

55 Reaching audiences - National media

56 Reaching audiences - Local media

57 Effectiveness of Septic Tank campaign Registration campaign 90% registration Lancaster University dissertation Metrics To be refined by STRIVE RELAY Risk project National Inspection Plan Interim Review All LAs distributed leaflets, info on website, stakeholder meetings, articles etc Operation and Maintenance issues and de-sludging main reasons for failure during inspection Full Review in August STRIVE Small Scale Study - Attitudes Survey Majority of respondents stated that they were not provided with information on operation and maintenance 69.9% respondents were aware that the LA and the EPA were in the process of implementing public engagement campaign. Internet, national radio and local newspapers in order of preference. Those respondents whose private well had previously been contaminated were twice as likely to acknowledge their septic tank as a potential threat

58 Effectiveness of Private Wells campaign Metrics Web app usage Website, Animation hits etc Level of grant uptake Increased testing rates Reduced Illness Early days Web App almost 1600 views and 159 responses Journal.ie 7,000 views, 83 comments YouTube 151 views EPA Householder information webpage 2,600 hits National TV and local radio coverage

59 Challenges Huge lack of awareness of issues regarding septic tanks and risk posed to private wells 170,000 private wells 500,000 septic tanks Public opposition e.g. septic tank tax Effect of Water Charges Increase in number of private wells Proper construction, testing and treatment Not necessarily low cost option Successful implementation of campaign requires collaboration with others Resource implications Agreed Messages what do people want information on, what format? Effective communication non-technical language, New skills Assessment of effectiveness

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