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 – Registration Open
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: Full 2 day attendance €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. Continuous Professional Development (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.