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EPA Water Conference 2026 – Agenda Available

EPA Water Conference 2026: 17-18 June, Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway

Registration is now open for the annual EPA 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 and it will be available to attend in person or online.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 June 2026

Location: Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway.

Theme: Strengthening the Measures.

Format: In person or online.

Student and volunteer tickets: Discounted volunteer and student tickets are available. Please contact epaconf@davisevents.ie events for more information. A private registration link will be provided following a brief screening process.

Media and Queries: For any queries with regards the event, please contact – epaconf@davisevents.ie

Cost: 2 Day conference ticket – €300

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

CPD Approval

The EPA Water Conference is officially CPD approved by Engineers Ireland. CPD credits apply to in‑person attendance only.

Learn more

You can view previous conference schedules and presentations at EPA Water Conference – Catchments.ie – Catchments.ie

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.