Catchment News

September Hydrology Bulletin

The Hydrology Bulletin for September is now on the EPA website. The bulletin is produced by the EPA in conjunction with Met Éireann, Geological Survey Ireland and the Office of Public Works.

Overview

The majority of meteorological stations recorded monthly rainfall totals below their long-term average for September. However, parts of the west and north west recorded higher than average totals with the Newportstation in County Mayo recording the month’s wettest day and the greatest number of rain days.

During September, most river flows were classed as normal, above normal or particularly high for this time of year. Lake and groundwater levels also rose across the country with all monitored lakes indicating normal or higher than normal levels, and 86% of groundwater monitoring wells indicating normal or above normal levels for September.

Learn more:

You can download the September Hydrology Bulletin on the EPA website: http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/water/flows/hydrometricbulletins/

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.

LAWCO

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.

EPA

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.

DECLG

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.