The EPA's Monitoring and Assessment Role

The EPA monitors environmental pollutants and radiation to assess the impact on the environment and human health. Monitoring is undertaken across a broad range of thematic areas to provide a reliable and meaningful assessment of our environment. Information is made available to the public, stakeholders and policymakers to help them make informed decisions. 

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Environment and You

Check out what's happening, what's being done and the action you can take to improve the quality of your environment.

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Assessment

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Bathing waters

How water quality is monitored and assessed at our designated bathing waters to keep swimmers safe and healthy.

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Circular economy under the topic of Monitoring and Assessment

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Drinking water topics areas

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Freshwater and Marine

The EPA Water Programme works with others to monitor and assess the health of our rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters under the Water Framework Directive.

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Noise

Noise under the topic of Monitoring and Assessment

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Latest Publications in Monitoring & Assessment

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Climate Change's Four Irelands: Wave 2, Report 2

This report provides an updated overview of the Irish public’s beliefs, attitudes, policy preferences and behaviours regarding climate change in the second wave of the Climate Change in the Irish Mind study.

Provisional GHG Report 1990-2023 Front Cover
Ireland's Provisional Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990-2023

The EPA has produced provisional estimates of greenhouse gas emissions for the time period 1990-2023. This report provides early insight into the annual greenhouse gas emissions in advance of final data being submitted to the EU and UN in 2025.

Irelands Climate Change Assessment Report Synthesis 300X421
Ireland’s Climate Change Assessment Synthesis Report

The Synthesis Report acts as a concise summary of the most important science on climate change presented in the underlying volumes. Selected findings that are deemed of the highest policy and societal relevance from each underlying volume are integrated into the report. The synthesis report highlights the underlying volumes details, where the interested reader can discover further information.

Hydrology Bulletin Cover- August 2024
Hydrology summary bulletin - August 2024

Hydrology Summary Bulletin for August 2024 outlining the flows in rivers, rainfall, lake levels, turlough levels, groundwater levels and spring outflows of over 300 stations across Ireland.

WQ Indicator report cover 2023
Water Quality in 2023

An Indicators Report

This report provides an update on the quality of water in Ireland's rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal waters and groundwater using information collected in 2023.

Latest News

in: Freshwater and Marine
There are no signs yet of an improvement in water quality and more action is needed, says EPA

Date released: June 11, 2024

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published Water Quality in 2023: An Indicators Report. The report provides an update of the key indicators of the quality of Ireland’s rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal and groundwaters using monitoring data collected in 2023.

Bathing water quality remains high overall, but heavy summer rainfall is putting pressure on our beaches

Date released: May 15, 2024

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the Bathing Water Quality in Ireland report for 2023 which shows that water quality at the majority of Ireland’s bathing waters was of a high standard.

EPA finds no significant improvement in the water quality of rivers and lakes

Date released: June 13, 2023

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the report Water Quality in 2022 – An Indicators Report which provides an update on the water quality of Ireland’s rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal, and groundwaters for 2022.

FAQs on monitoring & assessment

in: Freshwater and Marine Freshwater and Marine

A collection of frequently asked questions about monitoring and assessment to assist you with your queries.

popular FAQs about freshwater & marine

  • Can I access the register?

    The abstractions register available to the general public can be downloaded here. Please note that the Register is being redeveloped to reflect the requirements of the Act and this will supersede this current version when published.

    The EPA does not publish personal information or other information that could jeopardise the security of water supplies. This is in accordance with the protection of critical national infrastructure direction included under the EU Directive 2016/1148.

    The EPA can share information on the water abstraction register with public bodies involved in water management. Information can be requested by contacting the EPA at edenabstractionsupport@epa.ie

  • When should I update my registration?

    You must notify the Agency at edenabstractionsupport@epa.ie  of any material changes to the entry on the Register. These changes include but are not limited to the following: a change in the daily rate of abstraction, transfer of ownership of the abstraction, and cessation of the abstraction.

  • What if I have more than one abstraction point?

    If you are abstracting water from two or more abstraction points in the same waterbody which join to form one abstraction, register all points under the same registration. For example, a factory is abstracting from several wells to supply their process water.
    In the situation where there are two or more abstractions that are not connected, then these abstractions should be registered separately. For example, if there were abstractions at two different farms that are several kilometres apart, the abstraction at each farm would be registered separately.

  • What abstraction information do I need to provide?

    • The abstraction owner's name and address
    • Abstraction location details, such as the address and Eircode (if available)
    • Abstraction source details (is it from a river, lake, or spring?)
    • Abstraction purpose details, such as industrial, agricultural, or commercial.
    • The number of abstraction points.
    • You also need to provide details of the highest amount of water you would abstract from the abstraction in one day (called the maximum daily abstraction volume, measured in m3/d). Typically, the highest volume of water would be used on a dry summer's day. You can provide an estimated value if you do not have an exact figure.
    • The average amount of water you would use from the abstraction over the course of a year (called the annual abstraction volume, measured in cubic meters per year (m3/yr)). You can provide an estimated value if you do not have an exact figure.

     

  • How do I register?

    Registration is free and can only be done online. Register your abstraction by following these steps:

    1. Sign up to the EPA's EDEN website and request access to the Water Abstractions Module. Guidance on this process is available on the EPA website.
    2. Submit your abstraction details in the Water Abstractions Module via the EDEN website. Guidance on this process is available on the EPA website.
    3. When your registration is complete, you will receive a confirmation email from the EPA.