Management Of Water Resources To Form Central Theme Of Clare Visit To Odense, Denmark

By mid-October 2009, all County and City Councils must produce River Basin Management Plans under the EU Water Framework Directive. The process is due to commence when draft Plans are published in December 2008.

Following consultation with the Danish Embassy in Ireland, Denmark was selected as a suitable country to visit because of its similarity to Ireland in population, area, length of coastline, urban-rural mix, and climate, as well as its accessibility.

Odense is the third biggest city in Denmark, and is located near the middle of the country on the island of Fyn. It is the main centre of the Odense River Basin District, a mainly rural area. To implement the EU Water Framework Directive, each member state selected one river basin as a pilot area to ensure that similar practices were applied in all countries; the Danish pilot river basin was Odense.

As one of the leading participants in drafting a management plan for the Shannon river basin, which was the Irish pilot area, Clare County Council has decided to visit the Odense basin.

Speaking ahead of the educational trip, SPC Chair Cllr. Patricia McCarthy said, "As the River Basin Management Planning will be closely linked and will influence the County Development Plan in the future, water management planning will have wider implications for the future development of the County. This is a major issue facing the Council and it is important that policy makers are well informed and this visit to Odense will help in developing best practice’.

Mr. Sean Ward, Senior Engineer Environment & Emergency Services Directorate, commented, ‘In view of the impending need for local authorities to make River Basin Management Plans and their importance for the future of water management, this visit to another country similar to Ireland will give particular useful insights into how Clare County Council should implement the Water Framework Directive’.

Counsellor Per Lindholm of the Danish Embassy stated, ‘The Danish Embassy is delighted that Clare County Council have decided to go to Denmark to see how we deal with water issues. In Denmark we are very much aware of the importance of water treatment, water environment but also how to save on water. Even though water is a natural resource it is not unlimited. I am pleased to say that Denmark is at the forefront when it comes to water issues and believe that the Clare County Council trip to Denmark will be of mutual benefit to both parties’.

A group comprising nine Strategic Policy Committee members and five Council staff will leave Shannon on Sunday 21st September for Billund airport in Denmark via Stansted. The delegation includes Council members nominated to the Shannon River Basin District Advisory Council and the Western River Basin District Advisory Council. They will spend two days in Odense receiving presentations and visiting facilities, and return to Shannon on Wednesday 24th September.

Subjects on the study trip schedule are as follows:
- Overview of Odense Pilot River Basin Project
- Implementation of the Water Framework Directive
- Management of lakes and rivers
- Management of bathing water
- Water supply in Odense
- Catchment protection
- Groundwater treatment
- Waste water treatment

All the Member States of the European Union are moving towards River Basin Management Planning in accordance with the Water Framework Directive. The Directive aims to provide a new, strengthened system for the protection and improvement of water resources and water-dependent ecosystems.

It aims at preventing any deterioration in the existing status of waters, including the maintenance of "high status" where it exists, and at ensuring that all waters achieve at least "good status" by 2015.

-ENDS-

FURTHER INFO
Sean Ward, Senior Engineer Environment & Emergency Services Directorate (065-6846494) or Mark Dunphy, Dunphy Public Relations (086-8534900)

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900