Year: 2025
This document provides a standardised approach and methodology for conducting and reporting risk assessments and risk management of public and private water supplies at the source. It ensures consistency in evaluations, facilitating regulatory oversight and Ireland’s reporting obligations to the European Commission, as required under the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2023. The guidance includes Excel-based reporting templates for risk assessment and risk management, specifically for Public Water Supplies and Group Water Schemes (Annex 5) and Small Private Supplies (Annex 6). These templates are designed for use alongside the guidance and can be downloaded from this page.
Year: 2024
The position paper has been developed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It provides a summary of the issues in relation to trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids in drinking water including legislation, health impacts and interventions. This revised paper was published in December 2024.
Year: 2024
The purpose of this guidance document is to provide a basic ‘how-to’ guide for local authorities returning drinking water (private supply) data to the EPA.
Year: 2023
This position paper has been developed by the EPA and the HSE. It updates the previous paper published in 2010.
Year: 2020
This manual is a revision of the 1995 EPA Filtration Manual. The updated Filtration Manual has been revised to reflect best practice in drinking water filtration and in the supervisory role of the EPA. It provides practical guidance in plant operation, management, maintenance and supervision as well as an overview of current and emergency filtration technologies.
This position paper has been developed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)., September 2019
Year: 2019
This position paper has been developed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It provides a summary of the issues in relation to pesticides in drinking water including health, legislation and interventions.
Year: 2016
The purpose of this advice note is to provide guidance on the enforcement of the European Union (Radioactive Substances in Drinking Water) Regulations 2016
Advice Note No. 15: Optimisation of Chemical Coagulant Dosing at Water Treatment Works., June 2014
Year: 2014
The purpose of this Advice Note is to provide guidance to Water Services Authorities (WSAs) on optimisation of Chemical Coagulatn Dosing at Water Treatment Works.
This poster has been prepared by the National Pesticides Working Group which was facilitated by the EPA., May 2014
Year: 2014
This poster has been developed by the National Pesticides Working Group to provide informtion supporting awareness around responsible use of pesticides by professionals and householders.
This leaflet has been prepared by the National Pesticides Working Group which was facilitated by the EPA., May 2014
Year: 2014
This leaflet has been developed by the National Pesticides Working Group; to provide information supporting awareness around responsible use of pesticides by gardeners and household users.
This leaflet has been prepared by the National Pesticides Working Group which was facilitated by the EPA., May 2014
Year: 2014
This leaflet has been developed by the National Pesticides Working Group to provide information supporting awareness around responsible use of pesticides by farmers and other professional users.
This leaflet has been prepared by the National Pesticides Working Group which was facilitated by the EPA., May 2014
Year: 2014
This leaflet has been developed by the National Pesticides Working group to provide information supporting awareness around responsible use of herbicides, including MCPA, by farmers and other professional users
Advice Note No 14: Borehole Construction and Wellhead Protection, October 2013
Year: 2013
The Advice Note sets out the guidelines on how a water supply borehole should be constructed given the nature of Irish aquifers, and the nature of common potential risks to groundwater quality in Ireland.
Year: 2013
The purpose of this Advice Note is to provide guidance to Water Services Authorities (WSAs) where pesticides have been detected in drinking water and on the actions that should be taken in such an event.
Advice Note No. 12: Exempted Drinking Water Supplies, January 2013
Year: 2013
This EPA Drinking Water Advice Note on Exempted Drinking Water Supplies provides binding guidance for Water Services Authorities (WSAs) on exempted supplies in accordance with Regulation 14 of the Regulations.
Advice Note No. 10: Service Reservoir Inspection, Cleaning and Maintenance., January 2013
Year: 2013
This Advice Note provides guidance to Water Services Authorities for the regular inspection, cleaning and maintenance that should be carried out on service reservoirs. It covers the actions to be taken by operators including practical advice on how inspections and cleaning of reservoirs should be carried out.
Advice Note No. 11: Prior Investigations and Technical Assessments, January 2013
Year: 2013
This Advice Note provides guidance to Water Servcies Authorities on the steps involved in carrying out a Technical Assessment or Prior Investigation as required under the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations S.I. No. 610 of 2010.
Advice Note No. 9: Cryptosporidium Sampling and Monitoring, January 2013
Year: 2013
This Advice Note provides guidance to Water Services Authorities on sampling and monitoring for Cryptosporidium. It includes a report on an international review of Cryptosporidium monitoring practices.
Advice Note No. 8: Developing Drinking Water Safety Plans, January 2013
Year: 2013
This Advice Note provides guidance to Water Services Authorities on the steps involved in constructing a water safety plan and an outline of what it should contain in the Irish context. It contains guidance on hazard identification, risk assessment and the preparation of action plans for the hazards identified.
Advice Note No. 6 Restoring Public Water Supplies Affected by Flooding, January 2013
Year: 2013
Guidance for Local Authorities on Water Quality checks that should be undertaken as part of the process of restoring public water supplies affected by flooding.