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Hydrology Bulletin, January 2023

The Hydrology Summary Bulletin for January 2023 has information on the flows in rivers, rainfall, lake levels, groundwater levels and spring outflows of over 300 stations across Ireland. It compares January 2023 to long term historical averages for that month.

Overview

Rainfall was below the long-term average in most places and wettest in the southwest. River flows
generally increased since December, with average river flows for January above the long-term
average at over half (53%) of river monitoring stations across the country. Similarly, average lake
levels rose during January, with almost three-quarters (73%) of lakes above the long-term average
for this month.

Average monthly groundwater levels also increased during January. Over half (53%) of monitoring
wells were above the long-term monthly average. Most monitored spring outflows were normal for
this time of year.

Learn more:

The January 2023 hydrology bulletin can be downloaded here:

https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring–assessment/freshwater–marine/hydrology-bulletin/hydrology-bulletin/hydrology-summary-bulletin—january-2023.php

Monthly average river flows for January 2023 relative to historic monthly average flows expressed as percentile of the
long-term values of monthly flow. Numbered sites are represented in the hydrographs in the Hydrometric Bulletin.
**All data are provisional and may be subject to revision (Source: EPA, OPW).**

About author

EPA Catchments Unit

Administrator

The EPA Catchments Unit is based in Dublin, and the team is involved with catchment science, chemistry, ecology, hydromorphology, modelling, Geographic Information Systems and planning. We work with the wider EPA, all of our local authorities, the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and other public bodies and Departments to ensure we have the best available data and information about our catchments.

Who is involved?
Quite simply, everyone in Ireland has a role to play. This can be from something as simple as making sure you don’t pollute your local stream, or a local community working together to establish a Rivers Trust to enhance the rivers and lakes in their area, to a Government Department or Agency helping a Minister implement a new policy to help protect and enhance all our water bodies.

This website has been developed and is maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency, and is a collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Local Authority Waters Programme.

Local Authority Waters Programme

The Local Authority Waters Programme coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and supports local community and stakeholder involvement in managing our natural waters, for everyone’s benefit.

Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA is responsible for coordinating the monitoring, assessment and reporting on the status of our 4,842 water bodies, looking at trends and changes, determining which waterbodies are at risk and what could be causing this, and drafting environmental objectives for each.

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Department is responsible for making sure that the right policies, regulations and resources are in place to implement the Water Framework Directive, and developing a River Basin Management Plan and Programme of Measures to protect and restore our waters.