EPA Water Conference
The EPA Water Conference is the EPA’s flagship annual event dedicated to protecting and restoring Ireland’s water quality. This hybrid gathering brings together scientists, policymakers, community groups, and industry leaders to share insights, showcase real-world case studies, and explore practical solutions for our rivers, lakes, ground and coastal waters. Covering themes such as policy, agriculture, health, emerging challenges, and the future of water, the conference plays a vital role in shaping sustainable catchment management and safeguarding this essential resource for generations to come.
2026 EPA Water Conference – Save the Date
The Environmental Protection Agency will host the annual Water Conference on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 June 2026 at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway.
The theme for this year is Strengthening the Measures.
The conference will be available to attend in person or online. Registration will open in the coming weeks.
CPD Approval
The EPA Water Conference is officially CPD approved by Engineers Ireland. CPD credits apply to in‑person attendance only.
Accommodation
A limited number of first come, first served rooms are available at the Galway Bay Hotel for the nights of 16 and 17 June 2026. Bookings can be made directly with the hotel.
Conference Overview
EPA Water Conference Archive
2025 EPA Water Conference
2024 EPA Water Conference
2023 EPA Water Conference
2022 EPA Water Conference
2021 EPA Water Conference
2020 EPA Water Conference
2019 EPA Water Conference
The EPA’s National Water Event for 2019 took place on May 29 and 30 in The Galway Bay Hotel. Over the course of 2 days, 6 sessions were held, covering all aspects of water quality, health and the importance of public engagement. Click the below link to view presentations from the event.
Learn more:
You can watch all EPA Water Conference videos, along with recordings from other EPA events covering a wide range of environmental topics, on the EPA Ireland YouTube channel. Visit EPA Ireland on YouTube to explore the full collection.
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.