As autumn brings wetter weather and heavier rainfall, NI Water’s Sustainable Catchment Management Programme (SCaMP) team is highlighting the important role healthy upland landscapes can play in helping to manage water and reduce flood risk.
SCaMP works to protect and improve the land around key drinking water sources, including reservoirs and rivers. Through measures such as peatland restoration, tree planting, fencing, drain blocking and improved land management, the programme helps support better raw water quality while also delivering wider environmental benefits.
One of the key advantages of restoring natural catchments is their ability to hold water for longer. Healthy peatlands and resilient soils can act like a sponge, absorbing rainfall and releasing it more slowly into streams and rivers. This can help reduce the speed and volume of run-off following heavy rainfall, supporting a more sustainable approach to managing water in the landscape.
An NI Water spokesperson said: “As we move into the wetter autumn and winter months, it is important to recognise that flood resilience is not just about hard infrastructure. The natural environment has a vital role to play too.
“Through SCaMP, NI Water is working with farmers, landowners and partner organisations to restore and protect the catchments that supply our drinking water. By improving the condition of these landscapes, we can help slow the flow of water after heavy rainfall, support biodiversity, store carbon and improve the quality of water entering our reservoirs and rivers.”
SCaMP projects are designed to deliver multiple benefits for people, water and wildlife. Restored peatlands can help lock in carbon, provide habitat for important species and make upland areas more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
An NI Water spokesperson added: “We are already seeing growing recognition of the role that nature-based solutions can play in addressing environmental challenges. While they are not a standalone answer to flooding, healthy catchments are an important part of the wider picture and can help build long-term resilience.”.
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