A smart approach to managing open drains protects water quality
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for crop production, but is easily mobilised to surface waters from heavy soils during rainfall […]
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Articles by category
Making the most of our waters – the LEADER approach and future funding opportunities
A workshop by the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office, WaterLIFE & IRD Duhallow was held on Monday 16th and Tuesday […]
Read More The Local Authority Waters and Communities Office
In Ireland, we are never far from at least one of our natural waters, be they our rivers, lakes, transitional, […]
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“What exactly is the situation?” – Investigative Assessments can provide the answer
So ……we know that a rural stream is polluted (e.g. Ecological Quality value = 3-4; mean phosphate concentrations = 0.05 and […]
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How chemical monitoring of our rivers can help us understand their story – why, what, where and when.
Why Monitor? Water does not exist in its pure form in the natural environment, it is truly reflective of its surroundings, […]
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Water Quality and Agriculture: Pollution Impact Potential Maps – A tool to guide resources into areas for further investigation
Currently the EPA is evaluating the sources of pollution or pressures (called ‘significant pressures’) causing unsatisfactory water quality as a […]
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What’s flowing into the Suir? Results from nutrient load apportionment modelling
Imagine you are out for a walk along the river Suir, and stop for tea and a delicious slice of […]
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What does the River Suir mean to you?
Great turnouts and lively discussions were the order of the day for the recent River Suir community meetings. Over two […]
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What’s living in the Suir, how healthy are our rivers?
The various uses of rivers can involve conflicting interests and often such uses disrupt the ecology or health of the river. […]
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The Suir Estuary and its catchment
What does the marine area tell us about upstream conditions? Can the Suir estuary function as a ‘canary’ for it’s catchment? […]
Read MoreWho 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.