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EPA publish Water quality monitoring report on nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations in Irish waters 2024

The EPA has reported on the results of water quality monitoring to support the assessment of the impact of the nitrate’s derogation on Irish Waters

The Water Quality Monitoring Report on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations in Irish Waters 2024 is an annual report which provides an update on the results of water quality monitoring to support the assessment of the impact of the nitrates derogation on Irish waters, as required under Regulation 37 of the European Union (Good Agricultural Practices for the Protection of Waters) (Amendment) Regulations.

The assessment incorporates data from over 1500 monitoring stations from the national monitoring network which are representative of the impacts of agriculture on water quality in our rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters and groundwaters.

Here’s what you need to know:

The assessment found that overall, nitrogen levels have reduced in 2024 compared to 2023, but remain too high in the southeast of the country. 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. Nitrate concentrations above the Drinking Water Standard can pose a risk to human health, particularly for young children.

Phosphorus levels are stable, but elevated concentrations are leading to localised water quality problems. Overall, there has been no significant change in 2024 compared to 2023. 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.

Nutrient losses from agriculture are a key issue impacting water quality. Ongoing and sustained actions will be needed to reduce nutrients to satisfactory levels before the ecological health of our waters improves.

Mean phosphorus concentrations at river monitoring sites in 2024

Mean nitrate concentrations at river monitoring sites in 2024

Read the full water quality monitoring report: https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring–assessment/freshwater–marine/water-quality-monitoring-report-on-nitrogen-and-phosphorous-concentrations-in-irish-waters-2024.php

The Early Insights Nitrogen Indicator Report has been developed to publish nitrogen data for 20 representative sites on our major rivers. The report is published every 6 months to provide a preliminary insight into nitrogen levels nationally.

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 | Environmental Protection Agency (epa.ie) and https://www.catchments.ie/significant-pressures/.

Catchment level information on water quality is available at https://www.catchments.ie/wfd-cycle-3-catchment-assessments-published-by-the-epa/

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About author

EPA Catchments Unit

Administrator

The EPA Catchments Unit is based in Dublin, and the team is involved with catchment science, chemistry, ecology, hydromorphology, modelling, Geographic Information Systems and planning. We work with the wider EPA, all of our local authorities, the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and other public bodies and Departments to ensure we have the best available data and information about our catchments.

Who is involved?
Quite simply, everyone in Ireland has a role to play. This can be from something as simple as making sure you don’t pollute your local stream, or a local community working together to establish a Rivers Trust to enhance the rivers and lakes in their area, to a Government Department or Agency helping a Minister implement a new policy to help protect and enhance all our water bodies.

This website has been developed and is maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency, and is a collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Local Authority Waters Programme.

Local Authority Waters Programme

The Local Authority Waters Programme coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and supports local community and stakeholder involvement in managing our natural waters, for everyone’s benefit.

Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA is responsible for coordinating the monitoring, assessment and reporting on the status of our 4,842 water bodies, looking at trends and changes, determining which waterbodies are at risk and what could be causing this, and drafting environmental objectives for each.

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Department is responsible for making sure that the right policies, regulations and resources are in place to implement the Water Framework Directive, and developing a River Basin Management Plan and Programme of Measures to protect and restore our waters.