EPA Water Quality in Ireland Report 2013 – 2018
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
The EPA Water Quality in Ireland Report for the period 2013-2018 is an update of the previous Water Quality in 2017: an indicators report covering the period 2013-2017.
The worrying trends previously identified in the 2017 report have continued – rivers are getting worse and we are losing more of our most pristine waters.
However, 92% of groundwater bodies, 80% of coastal waters, 53% of rivers, 50% of lakes and 38% of estuaries were found to be of satisfactory quality.
Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said:
I welcome the publication of the EPA’s report and those aspects of the report that show progress is being made.
Overall, however, I am concerned that the adverse trends first reported by the EPA in their previous water quality indicators report have continued and that river water quality has continued to worsen, with a net decline of more than 5% in river water bodies.
It is now more important than ever that all sectors engage in this increasingly urgent situation and reduce their impact on water quality by delivering the necessary improvements in a timely and efficient way. These actions are set out in the Government’s River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021.”
Among the actions the Government is taking to improve water quality include: