Last updated: March 2025
The Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE (DURL) project incorporates two interconnected wetlands in Griffeen Park as part of its broader initiative to improve water quality, natural water management and aquatic biodiversity in urban areas. These wetlands were specifically designed as a natural sewage system to treat wastewater from the surrounding areas, addressing a significant environmental issue known as "domestic misconnection." Domestic misconnection occurs when household appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers, and kitchen sinks, are incorrectly linked to surface water drains rather than the sewage system. This leads to untreated wastewater being directly discharged into local waterways, contributing to contamination. In the River Griffeen catchment, which includes approximately 12,000 dwellings and associated infrastructure, domestic misconnections are a considerable threat to water quality. The DURL project focuses on identifying and rectifying these misconnected appliances to ensure that wastewater is properly treated before entering the river. This process will not only improve water quality but will also provide flood alleviation and support healthier aquatic ecosystems in the area. The project is aligned with broader environmental policies, including the River Basin Management Plan 2022-2027, the Water Framework Directive, the Climate Change Action Plan, the Floods Directive, and the draft Biodiversity Plan. One of the key strategies is to use a Geographic Information System (GIS) to streamline inspections for domestic misconnections, making the process faster and more cost-effective. The constructed wetlands in Griffeen Park, with a standing water depth of approximately 30 cm, are planted with a variety of native Irish species. These wetlands offer a natural, sustainable solution to wastewater treatment, with the potential for similar applications across Europe. (Ref. 2, 4)
Wetlands at Greffeen Park
Ref. 6
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Improvements to water quality
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- River flooding
- Urban flooding (stormwater)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Invasive alien species
- Poor water quality
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Rapid urbanization
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)
Focus
Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Creation of artificial wetlands, Improved governance of green or blue areas, Establishment of inclusive governance mechanisms involving local communities, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Habitat mapping, restoration and monitoring-focused management
Project objectives
To improve river water quality in urban areas and to purify polluted water using a treatment system (the wetland) that is
natural.
To reduce water pollution and protect aquatic ecosystems by identifying and correcting domestic misconnections, ensuring that household wastewater is properly treated before being discharged into the environment.
To deliver a wide range of environmental returns, such as the protection and enhancement of biodiversity ( biodiversity of aquatic plants, insects, frogs and newts, and to the variety of border plants which will add to the pollinator credentials of the Park) the delivery of good ecological status of rivers, good habitat conditions the protection of fisheries and improved landscape aesthetics
(2, 3, 4)
Implementation activities
The DURL Project has undertaken several key activities to address the environmental challenges facing urban rivers, involving various stakeholders and community members. On May 26, 2022, the South Dublin County Mayor and the Dún-Laoghaire Rathdown County An Cathaoirleach marked the beginning of the project by breaking ground on the Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICWs) in Griffeen Valley Park. Stormwater assessors conduct door-to-door assessments in the affected catchment areas. To ensure the scalability of these efforts, the project is also developing a Decision Support Tool—a detailed roadmap that guides local authorities through the process of planning, designing, and constructing ICWs. The Construction of Integrated Construction Wetlands which consisted of a series of shallow ponds which were planted to treat the effluent, The laying of interconnecting Foul Sewers, Landscaping. In addition to these technical and administrative measures, the project actively involves the local community. For example, on August 5, 2022, a wetland planting event was held in Griffeen Valley Park, with over 40 participants, including students from local schools, residents, and members of Lucan Tidy Towns. The wetlands have been planted with a variety of native reed, rush and flowering plant species that will enhance biodiversity and pollination. (Ref. 1-5)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Implement sustainable urban drainage schemes to manage stormwater
Climate change mitigation:
- Protect and restore in-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors aiming at sequestering carbon dioxide and storing it in their soil
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Create new habitats
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore native species
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The Project is a collaboration between South Dublin County Council (SDCC) and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC), with 50% funding provided by the EU LIFE Programme. The project is managed by SDCC (3). To involve the local population stormwater assessors conducted door-to-door assessments in the affected catchment areas. The project will develop capacity building systems to educate and empower stakeholders in this area. Key personnel from local authorities will be trained to use the decision support tool and to champion the cause of misconnections in their areas. At the same time, over 40 people attended the planting event, including participants from local schools, residents, and Lucan Tidy Towns (1).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(Water Framework Directive, the River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021 (3), the River Basin Management Plan 2022–2027, the Floods Directive (1))
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
( Climate Change Action Plan 2019-2024 (3), the draft Biodiversity Plan (1))
Type of enablers
Support from transitional governance actors, NBS research project (e.g., H2020, Urban Living Labs, national research projects)
Financing
Total cost
€2,000,000 - €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- EU funds
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Storm / wave induced erosion and flooding
- Expected storm / wave induced erosion and flooding
- Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Expected strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Expected enhanced carbon sequestration
- Environmental quality
- Improved waste management
- Expected improved waste management
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Expected improved water quality
- Improved stormwater management
- Expected improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Expected increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Expected reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Expected increased number of species present
- Enhanced support of pollination
- Expected enhanced support of pollination
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
- Expected increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
South Dublin County Council (n.d.). Wetlands - What's happening now. South Dublin County Council, Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE project (n.d.). INTEGRATED CONSTRUCTED WETLAND - GRIFFEEN VALLEY PARK . Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE project , Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link];
3.
South Dublin County Council (n.d.). Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE (DURL) Project . South Dublin County Council, Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Echo Staff (2022). ‘Wetlands will transform local areas into dynamic habitats’. The Echo, Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link];
5.
ROUGHAN & O'DONOVAN DURL Project Consulting Engineers (2020). SOUTH DUBLIN INTEGRATED CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS (DURL PROJECT # LIFE17 ENV/IE/000281) GRIFFEEN VALLEY PARK - Ecological Baseline Report . Dublin: South Dublin County Council, Accessed on August 12, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Brooks, S. (2022). New wetlands to improve biodiversity in Griffeen Valley Park. NewsGroup, Accessed on August 14, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Echo (2023). Nature on our doorsteps: Ponds in the parks. Echo, Accessed on August 14, 2024, [Source link];
8.
The Journal (n.d.). The population in towns like Lucan is expected to grow significantly by 2021.. The Journal, Accessed on August 15, 2024, [Source link];
Griffeen Valley Park Wetlands Community Planting Day
Ref. 1
Wetland
https://www.sdcc.ie/en/services/environment/dublin-urban-rivers-life/what-s-happening-now/
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.