EPA: What are significant water abstractions and how will they be assessed?
A new guidance document detailing the methodology to assess the impact of abstractions on waterbodies and identify significant abstractions in […]
Read MoreA new guidance document detailing the methodology to assess the impact of abstractions on waterbodies and identify significant abstractions in […]
Read MoreFunding awarded for events celebrating our waterbodies this National Heritage Week. The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), working on behalf […]
Read MoreNearly 400 entries in the Local Authority Waters Programme ‘My Favourite Waterbody’ photo competition Thursday, 7th August 2025: One overall […]
Read MoreThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published updated evidence to further support the targeting of agricultural measures to protect and improve […]
Read MoreHydrology bulletin on rainfall, river flows, lake levels, groundwater levels and spring outflows for July 2025. July 2025 was warm […]
Read MoreUK & Ireland Lakes Network (UKILN) Conference 2025 will be held on 14–15 October in Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland. This […]
Read MoreThe EPA Water Conference took place on 11 and 12 June 2025 in Galway and online. Over 240 people attended […]
Read MoreHydrology bulletin on rainfall, river flows, lake levels, groundwater levels and spring outflows for June 2025. June 2025 was warm […]
Read MoreQuite 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.
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.
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.
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.