Water Quality in Ireland 2019-2024
Summary: This report sets out the latest assessment of the health of Ireland’s rivers, lakes, canals, groundwaters, transitional (estuaries) and coastal waters.
The analysis is based on the assessment of over 4,000 surface water bodies and over 500 groundwater bodies over the period 2019-2024. This assessment shows that over half (52%) of our surface waters are in good or high ecological status which means that nearly half (48%) are in unsatisfactory condition. 92% of groundwaters are in good status, while 87% of our canals are at good ecological potential. Excess nutrients from agriculture, urban wastewater and other human activities remains the biggest challenge, followed by changes to physical habitat conditions. There is evidence that nutrient levels are reducing in areas where actions are being targeted, which is very welcome.
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