Source to Tap is a €4.9m project to protect and improve our rivers and lakes in the Erne and Derg cross border catchments. The project is funded by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, with match funding from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG) in Ireland and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
NI Water is the lead partner and the Source to Tap project unites water companies from both sides of the Ireland-Northern Ireland border, with Irish Water a partner as well as bringing together the Agri-Food Biosciences Institute, Ulster University, The Rivers Trust and East Border Region.
Water catchments are designed to be the first stage of a multiple barrier approach to water treatment. Diffuse water pollution and poor land management practices can pollute surface and ground water supplies with substances such as pesticides, bacteria and soil which run off the land. This run-off will increase the colour, turbidity, total organic carbon and suspended solids in the water which is then abstracted to be treated for drinking water supply. When these substances are in the water in large or varying amounts it can increase the capital and operating costs at the Water Treatment Works. The Source to Tap project will trial pilot studies to reduce pesticides and sediments getting into the water in the first place, and raise awareness of the importance of protecting our precious drinking water resource.
For further information on the project please visit: