The primary challenge that Ireland faces over the next decade is to achieve ‘good water status’ for all waters by 2015 as set out in the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Not all waters in Ireland currently meet this good status objective.
The main threat to surface water quality is eutrophication, which is the over-abundant growth of plant and algae arising from excess nutrients in the water. The nutrients of concern are phosphorus and nitrogen, which come mainly from agricultural manures and fertilisers, sewage and detergents.
The quality of our public drinking water supplies remains high. However, the poor microbiological quality of the private group water schemes and groundwater continue to be challenges for authorities responsible for drinking water.
You can make a difference by reducing the chemicals that impact on our waters and reducing the quantity of water you use.
Overall Irish rivers (70.2%) have a satisfactory water quality status and the level of serious pollution continues to be low (0.6%). Based on the most recent evaluation, 70.2 per cent of river channel length would achieve the WFD good status target whereas significant efforts are required to improve the remaining 29.8 per cent. Learn more about river water quality.
The majority (83.8%) of the 421 lakes assessed were of satisfactory water quality, i.e. oligotrophic or mesotrophic in status. Measures need to be put in place to improve the water quality of the remaining 68 lakes (16.2%) that do not have satisfactory water quality status as set out in the WFD. Learn more about lake water quality.
Of the 67 water bodies assessed from 20 estuarine and coastal areas 40 per cent were classified as unpolluted. Significant efforts are needed for the remaining estuarine and coastal water bodies to achieve the WFD good status target. Learn more about estuarine and coastal water quality.
The quality of bathing waters is very good. 97 per cent of bathing areas comply with the minimum EU mandatory standards while 90 per cent comply with the more stringent EU guideline standards. Learn more about bathing water quality.
There is an increasing trend in the number of groundwater samples showing zero contamination. However, 52 per cent of all Environmental Protection Agency groundwater monitoring locations showed bacteriological contamination at least once between 2003 and 2005. Learn more about groundwater quality.
The compliance of public water supplies with the microbiological parameter, E. coli, remains high at 98.9 per cent in 2005 while the group water compliance rate continued to lag behind. Learn more about drinking water quality.
The proportion of waste water receiving secondary waste water treatment has increased from 21 per cent in 2000-2001 period to 82 per cent in 2004-2005 period. Learn more about urban waste water treatment.
The percentage of water bodies at risk of failing to meet the WFD good water targets by 2015 were identified: rivers (64%), lakes (64%), estuarine waters (53%), coastal waters (27%) and groundwaters (62%). Learn more about river basin management.
Find out what you can do.
