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Saturday 25 March 2023 Dublin: 8°C

# Water quality

This year
2023
# Water quality
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
# County Councils
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.
# beefed up
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.
# All Clear
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.
# Water quality
Irish Water investigates reports of 'earthy' drinking water in Dublin and Wicklow
The utility company said the water is safe to drink.
# Investigation
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.
# Water quality
EPA reveals Ireland's best and worst quality bathing sites
Just two beaches received a ‘poor’ quality rating.
# EPA
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
# Water quality
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
# Balbriggan
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.
# Environmental Protection Agency
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.
Voices
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.
# Beaches
Here are the four bathing areas classified as having 'poor' quality water in Ireland
96% of beaches met EU standards last year.
# Water quality
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.
# Beaches
Here are the five bathing areas classified as 'poor' in Ireland
95% of bathing waters met or exceeded the minimum required standard.
# splish splash
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.
# Test the water
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.
# downstream
Water quality in Irish rivers and lakes is more often getting worse, not better
The results are from a new report by the EPA.
# Yeah buoy
Did your local beach get a Blue Flag this year? Here's the full list
Kerry tops the list with the most Blue Flags.
# Water quality
Here are the best and worst beaches in Ireland to go swimming
Seven coastal bathing waters have failed to meet the minimum standard.
# Keeping it clean
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.
# so fresh and so clean
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.
# Get Out
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.
# water's lovely
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?
# don't get in the water
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.
# Agriculture
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.
# slap on the wrist
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.
# E.coli
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.
# Public Safety
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.
# Drinking Water
One of three water boil notices lifted in Limerick
However, householders in a further two areas are being urged to take precautionary measures.
# Water quality
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.
# Beaches
Life's a beach: Blue Flag status awarded to eight more than in 2010
82 Irish beaches and two marinas are given Blue Flag status, the highest in years – but there are a few notable absentees.
# Fire damage
Fires cause €5 million worth of damage with 985 hectares of land destroyed
Coillte estimates that it will take this much to cover the extra expense from fire fighting, replacement of trees lost and forgone revenue from timber.