Open Data and Developer Resources
EPA Ireland’s Environmental Open Data Portal – data.epa.ie/
WFD Open Data – data.epa.ie/api-list/wfd-open-data/
This is the Water Framework Directive (WFD) Open Data API which has seven API datasets:
- Catchment
- Subcatchment
- Waterbody
- WaterbodyTrend
- MonitoringProgramme
- Dashboard
- Search.
The EPA Water Progamme manage this data via the WFD Application. The EPA provides this information to the public on the catchments.ie website
- API to access the EPA’s public Catchment information
- Access WFD Map layers via OGC WMS
- Access WFD Map layers via EPA Metadata Catalague
- Access WFD Map layers via ISDE portal
1st Cycle Water Framework Directive Data – https://stg.catchments.ie/download-category/1stcycle20092015/
This is a historical archive for interested parties and holds extensive documentation relating to WFD-related studies and River Basin Management Plans for the First Cycle which ran from 2010-2015.
Hydronet – www.epa.ie/hydronet/
Hydrometric stations operated by various organisations including the EPA/LAs, OPW, ESB, Waterways Ireland and The Marine Institute can be viewed and queried side-by-side through a single web portal.
All groundwater level data collected by the EPA is also now available through HydroNet for the first time.
The entire EPA hydrometric data archive for both historic and active stations is also now available through this portal on an Open Data basis.
The search functionality has been greatly improved and will contribute towards the Integrated Catchment Management approach as now advocated by the EPA.
Biological River Quality Surveys – www.epa.ie/QValue/webusers/
Results of biological monitoring from rivers around the country starting in the seventies and continuing right up to today are available on the EPA website. This information is a vital part of assessing WFD Status.
Inland Fisheries Ireland WFD fish Surveys – www.fisheriesireland.ie/what-we-do/research/water-framework-directive-fish-monitoring-programme
The responsibility of monitoring fish for the WFD has been assigned to Inland Fisheries Ireland (previously the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards) with over 300 sites encompassing lakes, rivers and transitional waters (estuaries) being monitored throughout the country on a three year rolling programme.
EPA Geoportal – gis.epa.ie/
This geoportal is designed to make data about the environment easier to find, browse and understand. See Maps using the EPA’s web mapping tools, Get Data directly to download and use in your own GIS systems.
Data.gov.ie
Data.gov.ie promotes innovation and transparency through the publication of Irish Public Sector data in open, free and reusable formats.
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.