Wetlands in Ireland play an important role in
stormwater management by absorbing heavy rainfall,
reducing flood risk, and filtering pollutants before
they enter rivers and streams. They are increasingly
recognised as part of Sustainable Drainage Systems
(SuDS), offering a natural alternative to traditional
concrete drainage infrastructure. Wetlands also
improve water quality, support biodiversity, and help
build resilience to climate change by storing water
during both wet and dry periods.
In Ballinahown, two wetlands form part of our
Water Management Plan. In 2025, we successfully
completed the installation of one wetland,
representing a major achievement made possible
through LAWPRO funding and strong community
collaboration.
Ballinahown completed a number of actions under
the Water Management Plan, including
a key initiative to improve water quality in the river
and a second project focused on bringing people
closer to the river by creating a safe access point
south of the river for water testing and monitoring.
