Catchment News

Hydrology Summary Bulletin – October 2022

| in News, Science, Stories

The latest Hydrology Bulletin on rainfall, river flows, lake levels, groundwater levels and spring outflows for October 2022 is now available.

Summary

  • Rainfall was above the long-term average across the entire country for October.
  • The average river flows for October increased at all flow monitoring stations since September. These flows were above the long-term average at almost three-quarter (73%) of river monitoring stations across the country.
  • Average lake levels also rose with almost two-thirds (60%) of lakes higher than normal for this time of year.
  • Average monthly groundwater levels increased at 82% of monitoring stations since September, with 44% of monitoring wells higher than the normal. Most monitored spring outflows were within the normal range for this time of year.

Learn More:

You can download the Hydrology Bulletin on EPA.ie now: https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring–assessment/freshwater–marine/hydrology-bulletin/hydrology-bulletin/hydrology-summary-bulletin—october-2022.php

Monthly average river flows for October 2022 relative to historic monthly average flows expressed as percentile of the long-term values of monthly flow. Numbered sites are represented in the hydrographs below. All data are provisional and may be subject to revision (Source: EPA, OPW).

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.

LAWCO

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.

EPA

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.

DECLG

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.