Ireland’s freshwaters: a world of wonder and discovery awaits you
Ireland’s freshwaters are host to an amazing world of animals, plants and other organisms. These organisms, many of whom are […]
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Articles by category
Constructed wetlands of Ireland – new database now online
As part of an EPA-funded project, NUI Galway researchers Collette Mulkeen, Dr Mark Healy and Prof Mike Gormally identified a […]
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Smart Farming – addressing the dual challenges of improving farm returns while enhancing the rural environment
What is Smart Farming? Smart Farming is a voluntary resource efficiency programme led by the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) in […]
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National Survey on Reuse of Treated Wastewater in Ireland
The Water Systems and Services Innovation Centre (WSSIC) at the Nimbus Research Centre in Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) is […]
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Comprehensive bird survey being undertaken along Shannon Estuary
The most comprehensive bird population and habitat survey ever undertaken on the Shannon Estuary has been underway since May 2017. […]
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Pesticides – modelling catchment management solutions
Throughout the UK, water companies are detecting pesticide concentrations above the regulatory drinking water standard in surface waters supplying their […]
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Nutrient modelling indicates most nutrient losses to surface waters are from diffuse sources
New estimates indicate that diffuse sources outweigh point sources in most sub-catchments. The main cause of unsatisfactory water quality in […]
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What is catchment science?
Catchment Science is the study of the connections and relationships between the physical landscape, ecosystems, and human activities within a […]
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ESManage – understanding how to manage freshwaters and the ecosystem services they provide
Of all the ecosystems on the planet, freshwaters are under the greatest pressure and are likely the most endangered. Human […]
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Blanket Bogs, Hydrology & Ecosystem Services to Water
Although blanket bogs are often recognised as iconic elements of the Irish landscape by many, their capacity to provide a […]
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.