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Project title

A Roadmap for a National Water Stewardship Plan for Ireland

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Central Solutions Ltd

Lead Applicant

Ken Stockil

Project Abstract

Water is currently under pressure in terms of availability and quality. Poor supply headroom, flooding and increased pollution risks are resulting in a wide range of ecological, social and competitiveness impacts. Global demand for water has increased six fold within the past century and the UN estimates demand will outstrip supply by 2030. Therefore, sustainable management of water as a resource is becoming increasing more critical. As noted by the EU policy, such as the Water Framework Directive and related legislation, water stewardship is a useful framework to address water challenges and to implement water policy. The benefits of Water Stewardship is that it is underpinned by an inclusive-stakeholder process requiring site-action yet is framed in terms of the broader catchment; requiring cooperation and partnerships between key stakeholders, such as water users and river-basin management bodies. This research will develop a roadmap in terms of standards, policy, incentives and supports that will enable a wide-range of Irish stakeholders to take a leadership position in the area of Water Stewardship internationally; thus contributing to increased national competitiveness while also addressing global challenges and sustainable development goals such as greater water security. This research will identify current challenges and opportunities in Water Stewardship for Ireland and provide a comprehensive view of the landscape both nationally and internationally in terms of standards, policies, incentives and support mechanisms, which will translate into a roadmap or toolkit for stakeholders. This roadmap will help stakeholders engage across domains, align national aims and resources, address global water challenges, and highlight national leadership in the area of water stewardship and sustainable resource management, thus increasing global competitiveness. Key outputs will include: a final report, summary report, roadmap schema, non-peer reviewed publication(s), workshop presentations, questionnaire(s), and presentations at key stakeholder events.

Grant Approved

�74,993.19

Research Hub

Natural Environment

Research Theme

Understanding, managing and conserving our water resources

Start Date

16/01/2017

Initial Projected Completion Date

15/01/2018