Date released: August 07, 2025
6th August 2025: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published updated evidence to further support the targeting of agricultural measures to protect and improve water quality. There are three updates to the evidence in the report:
These updates to the evidence have been informed by the most recently published EPA report on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations in Irish Waters 2024 which noted that although nitrogen levels reduced in 2024, they remain too high in the catchments in the southeastern half of the country. This report shows that some areas have achieved the required nitrogen reductions, and most catchments are now closer to their target than they were for the previous assessment which covered the period 2017-2019. However, the current results still fall short of the levels observed between 2008 and 2011, which remains the period when nitrogen levels were closest to meeting ecological targets over the past 35 years.
Ongoing and sustained action will be needed in the higher risk, freely draining, agricultural areas to further reduce nitrogen losses to waters before aquatic ecological health, and overall water quality will improve. The EPA map to help identify where these highest risk areas are, and the types of actions that are needed, has also been updated. This map is now called the Farm and Landscape measures for Agriculture (FLAG) map.
The report is published on the EPA website.
Further information on local water quality and the updated FLAG map is also available here.
Further information: Emily Williamson EPA Media Relations Office 053-9170770 (24 hours) or media@epa.ie
NOTES TO EDITOR
EPA water quality reporting: The EPA undertakes a full assessment of the overall quality and ecological status of Ireland’s waters every three years. The latest full assessment was published in October 2022 and can be found on the EPA website. The next full assessment for the period 2019 – 2024 will be published in Q4 2025.
The EPA also publishes water indicator data for over 1000 monitoring points from the national water monitoring network, on an annual basis. The latest report on Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in Irish waters 2024 was published in July 2025.
To provide a more timely overview of nitrogen concentrations and trajectories, the EPA has developed an Early Insights Nitrogen Indicator Report. The report is based on data from 20 representative monitoring sites on our major rivers, and it is published every 6 months to provide a preliminary insight into nitrogen levels nationally.
Water Body: A water body is an area of water, which is usually either the whole or part of a lake or coastal water, or a section of a river or an estuary (e.g. Lough Ree is one water body whereas the River Lee is divided into nine water bodies for monitoring purposes).
Nitrate: Nitrate is a form of nitrogen which is a nutrient and essential for plant growth. Too much nitrogen in a water body can lead to the over-growth of plants and algae that outcompete and displace other flora and fauna. This excessive growth can also cause oxygen depletion and damage the ecology of our water bodies. Our estuaries and coastal waters are particularly sensitive to high nitrogen concentrations. The main source of excess nitrate in the environment is agriculture, with wastewater also contributing. Nitrate concentrations above the Drinking Water Standard can pose a risk to human health, particularly for young children.
Phosphorus: Phosphorus is a nutrient which is essential for plant growth. As with nitrogen, too much phosphorus in a water body can lead to the over-growth of plants and algae which disturb the ecosystem. Excess phosphorus is a particular concern for the ecological health of rivers and lakes. The main sources of excess phosphorus in the environment are agriculture and wastewater.
Pressures impacting on waters: The EPA has published a series of reports on the main pressures impacting on waters which are available at Update on pressures impacting on water quality . Catchment level information on water quality is available here.
River Basin Management Plan: The River Basin Management Plan sets out the national policy and actions that are being taken by all sectors to improve and protect water quality. Further information about the National River Basin Management Plan is available on the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage website.
www.catchments.ie: A collaborative EPA, Local Authorities Water Programme (LAWPRO) and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage website that is used to share data, information, and resources on water in Ireland.