A peatland restoration project to improve water quality in County Tyrone is currently being jointly managed by NI Water and RSPB NI.

The project targets quality and habitats in the drinking water catchment area at Lough Bradan, where NI Water is currently carrying out work to restore 28 hectares of previously forested peatland adjacent to the Lough Bradan reservoir.

William O'Kane Contracts were employed to complete the site works. Restoration work began in December 2024 and should be completed by March 2025.

NI Water's aim through this project is to enhance raw water quality through environmentally sustainable projects, working collaboratively with key stakeholders.

This project is funded through the DAERA Peatland Challenge Fund, under the Shared Island Initiative, a partnership between NIEA, National Parks and Wildlife Ireland and NatureScot. This funding application marks another successful collaboration between NI Water and project partners RSPB NI. 

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Peatlands are essential to society as they provide many key services including wildlife habitat protection, drinking water filtration, flood prevention and much more.

Peatland restoration expert Dr Hugh Cushnan produced a site-specific management plan to improve the quality of existing ecological areas and hydrological conditions. Restoration methods being installed include, drain blocking through installation of peat dams, brash and stump clearance and contoured cell bunding.

Kerry Morris, Project Manager, said: "This area has been under the management of the Forest Service for over 60 years. NI Water’s Sustainable Catchment Area Management Practice Team (SCaMP) have carefully negotiated the removal of trees and have obtained consents and licences to enable this restoration.

"Occupying just 3% of the Earth's land surface, peatlands are our biggest carbon store on land. Whilst the key target is to improve the water quality through natural filtration and flood attenuation, the works will also enhance biodiversity, reduce carbon losses from the land and provide a habitat for many rare and endangered species."