The Mayor of South Dublin County, Councilor Mark Ward, officially launched the Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE project at Rathfarnham Castle Park on Monday 17th September. This is a joint project between South Dublin County Council (SDCC) and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC). This river water quality improvement projected is estimated to cost €2.54 million over a four year period from August 2018 to June 2022 with 50% funding from the EU LIFE Fund Programme. SDCC will be the lead authority on the project.
The Project aims to address the issue of pollution in urban rivers using techniques with proven results relating to domestic misconnection sources and integrated constructed wetland development. Two rivers have been identified for water quality improvement; the River Griffeen in South Dublin County and the Carrickmines Stream in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County. As the project develops significant awareness and engagement campaigns will be initiated for the benefit of residents in these catchments.
Speaking at the event, Mayor of SDCC Cllr Mark Ward said ‘I would like to wish the Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE project well, and look forward to seeing its implementation, and the improvement in river water quality over the next four years’. The Project not only sets about improving these selected rivers but also has an agenda of sharing and applying knowledge and experiences gained to a wider audience in Ireland and Europe. The Project is also the first if its kind in Ireland and when completed in 2022 both councils intend to meet their Water Framework Directive objectives for the selected rivers and set out a road map for future sustained progress on the issue of improving urban water quality in both counties.
Caption: SDCC Chief Executive Danny McLoughlin, Cllr Ossian Smyth Cathaoirleach of DLRCC and Mayor of SDCC Cllr Mark Ward with Representatives from SDCC, DLRCC and the Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment gather at Rathfarnham Castle for Life Programme 2014-2020.
