Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland is a public administration that is part of the pulse of the water sector. Here we bring together everything it publishes on Smart Water Magazine: its news, its blogs and the events it takes part in.
EPA releases 2024 nitrogen and phosphorus data for Irish waters
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published the full monitoring network results of the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in Irish waters in 2024. The Water Quality Monitoring Report on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations in Irish Waters 2024 is an annual report which provides an update on the results of water quality monitoring to support the assessment […]
Ireland’s drinking water remains high, but supplies must become more resilient, says EPA
The quality of drinking water from public supplies remains very high, with over 99.8 per cent of samples compliant with standards. There are 45 supplies serving 497,000 people on the EPA’s list of ‘at-risk’ supplies (Remedial Action List) that need to be addressed by Uisce Eireann. This is down from 57 supplies (serving 561,000 people) in 2023. The were 33 long-term boil water notices in 2024, down one-third from 2023. Progress to protect public health by removing lead from our supply networks and houses is still far too slow.
Ireland’s EPA finds 56% of domestic waste water treatment systems failed inspections in 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the report on Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2024, which details the findings of septic tank inspections completed by local authorities in 2024. Domestic waste water treatment systems, mostly septic tanks, are used by householders to treat sewage. There are nearly half a million systems in Ireland. The […]
Ireland’s drinking water quality high, but sustained investment is required for resilient supplies
The quality of drinking water from public supplies remains very high, with over 99.7 per cent of samples compliant with bacterial and chemical limits. The number of people served by “at risk” public water supplies has increased again in 2023 to 561,000, up from 481,000. This is primarily due to detections of persistent THM’s and cryptosporidium. The number of long-term boil water notices was 46 in 2023, almost double the number in 2022. One in twenty supplies failed to meet the THM standard in 2023. Progress to remove lead from our supply networks to protect public health is far too slow.
Uisce Éireann (Irish Water) must use its new investment plan to end wastewater pollution
Over half of Ireland’s waste water discharges are not meeting EU standards set to protect the environment. Uisce Éireann has committed to eliminating raw sewage discharges by 2025 from the majority of the 26 towns and villages with no treatment. Uisce Éireann still does not have clear plans to prevent pollution at some of the most significantly impacted water bodies, and it is vital these are resolved through its new investment plan. Treatment plants must be operated and maintained properly to prevent impacts on the environment.
Ireland’s EPA urges action to improve private drinking water quality
Private drinking water quality is not as good as public water quality The total number of small private supplies remains unknown as not all have registered with their local authority. Eighty four percent of registered small private supplies were monitored in 2022, compared with seventy five percent in 2021. The government review of the rural water sector identified several key issues in the provision of rural water that need to be addressed to protect public health.
Drinking water quality is high in Ireland, but resilience of supplies needs improvement, says EPA
The EPA Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies Report 2022, shows that over 99.7% of public water supplies comply with bacterial and chemical limits, which means our public water is safe to drink. However, many supplies still lack robust treatment measures to guarantee their long-term resilience and safety. The EPA's Remedial Action List (RAL) identifies "at-risk" […]