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EPA Water Conference 2026

The EPA Water Conference 2026 will take place on 17 and 18 June, 2026 in Galway and online.

Event Date: June 17, 2026

Event Time: Wednesday 17 June 10:00-17:00 Thursday 18 June 09:30-13:30

Location: Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway and online

A blue promotional banner for the EPA Water Conference 2026. The Environmental Protection Agency logo appears at the top left. Bold text in the centre reads “EPA Water Conference 2026,” with “17th & 18th June 2026” and the location “Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway” beneath it. The right side displays the tagline “Strengthening the Measures.”

The theme for this year is Strengthening the Measures.

The conference will be available to attend in person or online. 

Registration is now open: EPA Water Conference 2026 in Galway - Checkout

Speakers will share their knowledge on how to protect & improve water quality in Ireland and showcase case studies from around Ireland.

Check out the overview on catchments.ie 

Agenda

Day 1, Session 1: Setting the scene

  • EPA Welcome: Roni Hawe, Director of the Office of Evidence & Assessment, Environmental Protection Agency
  • Minister’s address: Christopher O’Sullivan, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with special responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity
  • Department update on implementation of the Water Action Plan: Emma Quinlan, Water Scientific Policy Adviser – Water Advisory Unit, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
  • View on the issues to be considered for the 4th plan – SWMI: Dr. Triona McGrath, Research and Policy Lead, The Water Forum

Day 1, Session 2: Water services

  • Addressing infrastructural and operational deficiencies in Urban Waste Water: Jim Fitzgerald, Regional Operations Manager, Uisce Eireann.
  • Preventing problems before they arise: Introducing the Drinking Water Resilience Improvement List: Patrick Chan, Senior Inspector, Drinking Water Enforcement, Environmental Protection Agency
  • Registration of small wastewater discharges – a new regulatory approach: Jim Moriarty, Senior Inspector, Dumping at Sea and Water Regulation, Environmental Protection Agency
  • A review of the National Inspection Plan for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems: Dr. Chris Fennell, Inspector, Waste Water Enforcement, Environmental Protection Agency

Day 1, Session 3: Working with communities

  • Our Ladys Island Campaign: Eoin Kinsella, Executive Agricultural Scientist, Wexford County Council
  • Shellfish in coastal waters: Vera O’Donovan, Regional Development Manager, Bord Iascaigh Mhara
  • Stranoodan Group Water Scheme – protecting water at the source: Ross MacDonald, Source Protection Officer, Stranoodan Group Water Scheme
  • Better Farming for Water Campaign and a focus on Catchments of Concern: Noel Meehan, Programme Manager – ASSAP, Teagasc
  • Panel discussion

Day 2, Session 4: Targeting action

  • EPA waterbody characterisation update: Dr. Eoin McAleer, Senior Scientific Officer, Environmental Protection Agency
  • Catchment science informing action: Ruth Hennessy, Catchment Manager, LAWPRO
  • The right measure in the right place: John Stack, Senior Executive Engineer, Dublin City Council
  • Water European Innovation Partnership: Mairead Whitty, Project Lead, Water European Innovation Partnership

Day 2, Session 5: Restoring our waters

  • Waters of Life: Anne Goggin, Project Manager, Waters of Life
  • Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE IP: Derek McLoughlin, Project Manager, Wild Atlantic Nature
  • Atlantic Salmon Trust – hope into action: Prof. Ken Whelan, Vice President & Alison Baker, Restoration Director, Atlantic Salmon Trust
  • Panel discussion

Contact Information:

For any queries with regards the event, please contact - epaconf@davisevents.ie