The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) is responsible for a number of different areas, including community engagement, carrying out scientific analysis of water bodies across the country and promoting the use of Nature-based Solutions to improve water quality across Ireland.
Alongside key stakeholders and partners, LAWPRO also plays a leading role in the delivery and management of the Blue Dot Catchments Programme and the Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP).
Community Water Officers, working at both water body and catchment scales, continue to build awareness, help build group capacity, support training and citizen science initiatives and strengthen links between public bodies, funders and communities.
Our role is to undertake scientific assessments in Priority Areas for Action (PAAs) across the country. These PAAs were selected because the waterbodies in these areas were ‘At Risk’ of not meeting their water quality objectives in the EU Water Framework Directive,
Find out moreThe Water Action Plan 2024 identifies urban runoff as a significant contributory factor to waterbody quality and quantity pressures in Ireland. There is a growing recognition among industry professionals of the need to move toward Blue and Green Nature-based spaces and biodiversity in urban areas to better serve the Water Action Plan. LAWPRO have been at the forefront of the move toward stormwater management using Nature-based Solutions in Ireland.
Find out moreThe Blue Dot Catchments Programme is a collaborative programme being delivered by a range of agencies as a means of focusing attention and resources towards the protection and restoration of our high status objective waters.
Find out moreIn partnership with Teagasc and Dairy Industry Ireland, the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) secured funding for a groundbreaking Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Project for Ireland in 2023. EIP-Agri projects are locally led and collaborative, addressing issues related to natural resources, such as water, through innovative approaches.
Visit the websiteThe Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), working on behalf of Ireland’s 31 local authorities to protect and restore good water quality in rivers, lakes, estuaries, ground and coastal water, is holding community information meetings across Ireland as part of the 3rd Cycle Water Action Plan.
The aim of these community information meetings is to make more people aware of work to improve water quality in their local area and to encourage as much engagement with communities across Ireland. At the meetings, LAWPRO experts and other stakeholders will explain the work that is being planned for the 3rd Cycle Water Action Plan.
Find out moreThe Catchment Community Fora are structured, voluntary fora, bringing together local individuals, community groups, and stakeholders to collaborate on improving water quality in their catchment.
It is part of a national pilot, led by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) under the Water Action Plan 2024, aiming to enhance public participation in water governance.
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