Air & you: Air Quality Index for Health
See what air quality is like in your locality and follow the associated health advice.
Radon & you: find out More about radon
Radon contributes the largest percentage of dose to the average Irish citizen
The Environment & You
In this section, you will learn more about how you can help protect your environment.
Climate change & you
Analysis of over 100 years of observational data shows that our climate is changing. This is most evident in the temperature data and particularly over recent decades.
Drinking water & you
Have you a private well? Learn more about it.
Waste water & you
How does your septic tank system work?
Radiation & you
The EPA carries out rigorous and continuous testing to ensure that environmental radiation remains within internationally agreed and legal safety limits.
FAQs on Environment & You
A collection of frequently asked questions about the Environment and You.
Popular FAQs
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My well is contaminated what should I do?
You should check your well to see if there are any obvious signs of contamination such as recent landspreading or cattle too close to your well. Protecting the catchment area of your well is one of the best ways to protect the quality of your water. You should also check to see is there any ingress of water into the borehole.
If your well is contaminated with E. coli or Coliform Bacteria you should boil the drinking water from the well until you are sure it is safe to drink and cook with.
You should sterilise your well (see How do I disinfect my well question) and see if this resolves the contamination (after retesting). If this is not successful in restoring the quality of your water you may need to consider improving the protection of your well and/or installing an appropriate treatment system. Once-off disinfection cannot replace a treatment system if your supply is always or often contaminated.
If your well is contaminated with a chemical parameter you should contact your local authority for advice in the first instance.
You may also consider connecting to a public or group water scheme.
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Where can I get my water tested?
Your local authority Environment Section or the HSE Environmental Health Officer will be able to advise on a laboratory. Alternatively, you can get the name of a suitable private laboratory from the Goldenpages
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What are the main risks to the safety and quality of water in my well?
The main risk to your well is contamination from human or animal waste. Many areas in Ireland have high groundwater vulnerability, which makes contamination of well water more likely. If your well is vulnerable to contamination and is not properly constructed it is possible that human or animal waste from septic tanks, land spreading or runoff from the surrounding land may enter your well. Contaminated water can make you or anyone who consumes the water ill. If you are concerned about your well water, contact your local authority or your HSE Environmental Health Officer for advice. If you suspect that your water may be contaminated it may be advisable to boil your water until you have had your well water tested.
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I have observed a contractor spraying pesticides in a public area not taking any safety precautions to protect the public - who to contact?
You will need to contact the Pesticide Registration & Control Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine for advice on this matter.
Further information is available here: http://www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie/sud/professionaluserssprayeroperators/
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Disposing of asbestos waste
Asbestos waste is hazardous and must be disposed of properly. Before any demolition work, identify which waste facility is licensed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for disposal of asbestos waste.
Hazardous waste transfer stations can accept asbestos waste and then arrange to have it disposed of at an appropriate facility here or abroad.