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Sunday 1 October 2023 Dublin: 13°C

# Water quality

Last month
September 2023
Eamon Ryan: Ireland isn't going to 'change tack' on nitrates derogation
His comments follow the Taoiseach’s invitation to EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius for a meeting to discuss the issue.
Taoiseach to seek meeting with EU Commission on nitrates derogation after meeting farmers
The IFA said the Taoiseach will seek to meet with the commissioner after a “positive” discussion with farmers today.
Farmer groups picket Agriculture Minister's meeting following nitrates cut
The decision to cut Ireland’s nitrates derogation limit arises out of the harm nitrates can cause water due to nutrient pollution.
This year
2023
EPA releases industrial water register for first time - but redacts almost 150 farm businesses
A report by
Eoghan Dalton
Businesses across a host of industries must register if they are abstracting 25,000 litres of water per day.
Nearly 500,000 people receive drinking water from 'at-risk' public supplies
A report by
Lauren Boland
The quality of drinking water in Ireland is very high overall but there are several issues for Uisce Éireann to address, says the EPA.
Dozens more inspectors needed to tackle the 'wicked problem' of farm water pollution
The report found there to be just 11 full-time equivalent council staff for farm inspections across the country.
'Extremely disappointing': Water quality in rivers and lakes fails to make upward strides
Improvements in water quality in some areas last year were matched by a similar rate of decline in others, the EPA has found.
Department of Agriculture pressured EPA not to release list of farms pumping from rivers
A report by
Eoghan Dalton
The list, which the EPA has refused to release, also contains information on data centres and quarries.
A Social Democrats TD said they were concerned if the Department of Agriculture was 'stymieing' environmental work.
The claim appeared in a ruling in which a decision by the EPA to withhold its water abstraction register for 1,223 locations across the country was overturned.
All locations are abstraction points where water is removed as part of activities related to farming, quarries, data centres and some semi-State bodies.
EPA reveals Ireland's good and bad bathing sites as improvement continues
A report by
Jamie McCarron
79% of 148 bathing sites surveyed have ‘Excellent’ water quality while 97% meet the minimum standard.
Ireland referred to EU court over ‘insufficient’ efforts on water quality laws
An EU directive issued more than 20 years ago requires that all inland and coastal waters reach a minimum of ‘good’ status by 2027.
Last year
2022
Report: Here are the counties performing the best and worst on local environment issues
The EPA has identified the highest and lowest-performing local authorities on issues like air and water quality and waste.
Local councils hiring inspectors to target farms over pollution concerns
It follows concerns over the impact agriculture has been having on water quality in a number of regions.
Irish Water says supplies in Dublin and Wicklow safe to drink after reports of 'earthy' taste
Irish Water conducted tests of the drinking water in the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Dublin City and North and East Wicklow areas.
Irish Water investigates reports of 'earthy' drinking water in Dublin and Wicklow
The utility company said the water is safe to drink.
Concerns over data submitted by Wexford power plant to EPA
Independent report alleges a ‘major issue’ with water quality monitoring near SSE’s Great Island Power Station.
EPA reveals Ireland's best and worst quality bathing sites
Just two beaches received a ‘poor’ quality rating.
One in twenty private water supplies were contaminated with E. coli in 2020, EPA says
An Environmental Protection Agency report said the quality of drinking water from private supplies is “not as good as it should be”.
The agency said 20 of the 380 private group schemes, which serve more than 2,900 people, failed to meet the standard relating to E. coli bacteria.
Twenty-two private group schemes also failed to meet the standard for Trihalomethanes (THM).
Over a quarter of small private supplies, serving food businesses, nursing homes, crèches and B&Bs, were not monitored at all in 2020.
All time
Irish Water: Wexford incident 'a serious failure' and shows system 'no longer fit for purpose'
The utility also said it was not informed of an incident in Ballymore Eustace until 10 days after it occured.
The utility has said it was not informed of two recent incidents until after they were resolved by local authorities
Irish Water tells Oireachtas Committee it 'has no direct control over water treatment plants'
Managing director Niall Gleeson has said 'a single public utility is the answer'
All water treatment plants to be audited after at least 52 people fall ill
At least 52 people fell ill after contaminated water entered the public drinking supply
Do Not Swim notice extended for 72 hours at north Dublin beach
Another Do Not Swim notice which was in place at Malahide Beach has been lifted.
Water quality in almost half of Ireland's rivers and lakes deemed unsatisfactory
Many rivers and estuaries in the south and east are under pressure from excess nitrogen from agricultural activities, the EPA said.
Opinion: Our water quality tests in Ireland are not good enough - the real picture is a lot worse
Professor Dearbháile Morris and Dr Liam Burke of NUI Galway say the EU-backed water pollution tests being used here do not give an accurate reading.
Here are the four bathing areas classified as having 'poor' quality water in Ireland
96% of beaches met EU standards last year.
Swimmers and surfers asked to take part in NUI Galway study to see if they have superbugs
Surfer Easkey Britton and Liffey Swim champ Paul O’Flynn are supporting the project by urging people to sign up to be tested.
Here are the five bathing areas classified as 'poor' in Ireland
95% of bathing waters met or exceeded the minimum required standard.
Quiz: Can you name these Irish rivers from above?
The past 30 years have seen a sharp decline in the quality of Ireland’s rivers, according to a new report.
Dublin people are being asked to test water quality across the city using free kits
Free testing kits will be sent to people who want to check the quality as part of a European-wide survey.
Water quality in Irish rivers and lakes is more often getting worse, not better
The results are from a new report by the EPA.
Did your local beach get a Blue Flag this year? Here's the full list
Kerry tops the list with the most Blue Flags.
Here are the best and worst beaches in Ireland to go swimming
Seven coastal bathing waters have failed to meet the minimum standard.
In the 1980s over 500 Irish river sites were of pristine quality, now there are just 21
A major study by the EPA has put the spotlight on Ireland’s water quality.
Most of Ireland's beaches get an A+ for water quality. Is yours one of them?
Six popular beaches didn’t make the EU standard.
South Dublin and Salthill water not fit for swimming
And not for the first time. The water at Sandymount and Merrion Strands has been temporarily deemed not fit for swimmers.
Has your local beach or bathing spot been given a Blue Flag this year?
The full list is here. Did your favourite bathing place make it?
Swimmers warned to stay out of the water at six Dublin beaches
Fingal County Council say the ‘poor quality’ results follow last weekend’s heavy rainfall.
Plan to increase Ireland's agricultural output could cause harm to environment
A report commissioned by the Government claims that the negative effects can be mitigated but green groups are concerned.
Great Barrier Reef status as 'natural wonder of the world' under threat
The UN says Australia hasn’t done enough to tackle concerns about rampant coastal development and water quality at the world heritage site.
Further tests due on waters from Cork E.coli beaches
Seven beaches were declared unsafe for swimming over the weekend over concerns about E.coli levels.
E-coli traces found in bathing water at three Clare holiday resorts
The beaches at Lahinch, Kilkee and Spanish Point have all been closed after traces of the bacteria were found.
One of three water boil notices lifted in Limerick
However, householders in a further two areas are being urged to take precautionary measures.
Irish bathing water quality improved in 2011
However, there was a drop in the amount of beaches reaching ‘good’ status. Ireland will have to redouble its efforts to maintain and improve bathing water quality standards, Minister Phil Hogan said today.