Year: 2016
The purpose of this document is to provide advice to members of the public on the type and quality of information likely to be required to support submissions for new bathing waters in order that they may be considered by local authorities for inclusion in national monitoring programs.
Council Directive of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (91/676/EEC), June 2016
Year: 2016
This report provides the information from Ireland to the European Commission, as required under Article 10 of the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC), with respect to the sixth reporting period (2012-2015). The report comprises: a description, with maps, of the evolution of water quality in groundwater and surface waters; a statement on the adoption of a Whole Territory Approach with respect to the designation of nitrate vulnerable zones; a summary of agricultural activities and an account of the implementation of the agricultural Code of Good Practice and a summary of the principal measures and an evaluation of the National Action Programme for limiting nitrate inputs from agricultural sources.
A Report for the Year 2015, April 2016
Year: 2016
The quality of Ireland’s bathing waters remains very high with just over 93% of identified bathing waters (128 of 137) meeting the minimum EU standards for ‘Sufficient’ water quality over the 4 year assessment period 2012-2015. Full details can be view in the downloaded report.
WFD Application Phase 1 Technical Overview, August 2015
Year: 2015
WFD Application Phase 1 Technical Overview
Version 2.0 May 2015, August 2015
Year: 2015
WFD Characterisation Approach (May 2015)
Year: 2015
The purpose of the report is to give a detailed review of all the main issues related to the quality of the aquatic environment in Ireland, in order to provide guidance towards the protection and enhancement of this valuable resource, and the preparation of second cycle river basin management plans under the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC).
An Overview for the year 2014, April 2015
Year: 2015
Overall the quality of Ireland’s bathing water quality remains extremely high, with 94% of bathing waters complying with new stricter EU standards and achieving at least ‘Sufficient’ water quality status in 2014. Assessment was undertaken using 4 years of data (2011-2014) as opposed to annual data previously. Around 90% of other monitored waters also met the standards for at least ‘Good’ quality.
Year: 2014
This assessment presents the latest monitoring data, an assessment of the data and a focus on key issues that affect water quality in the NBIRBD and NWIRBD.
Bathing Water Factsheet, July 2014
Year: 2014
General information on bathing waters in Ireland
Year: 2014
This assessment presents the latest monitoring data, an assessment of the data and a focus on key issues that affect water quality in the South Eastern River Basin District.
Year: 2014
This guidance addresses direct discharges to groundwater from point sources of potential pollution. It supplements the earlier report published by the EPA in 2011 entitled “Guidance on the Authorisation of Discharges to Groundwater” which focused on the technical assessment of indirect discharges to groundwater.
An Overview for the year 2013, April 2014
Year: 2014
Overall the quality of Ireland’s bathing water quality remains very high, with 97 per cent of bathing waters complying with the EU mandatory values and achieving at least ‘Sufficient’ water quality status in 2013. 114 bathing waters met the stricter guideline values achieving ‘Good’ status. The warm, dry summer in 2013 aided a return to normality compared to the wet season of 2012 where only 91 of 136 waters met ‘Good’ status.
Year: 2013
The monitoring of water quality at 136 identified bathing waters in 2012 is governed by the new Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 (S.I 79 of 2008) which transposed the new EU Directive on bathing water (2006/7/EC). The 2006 Directive gives stronger focus on the protection of public health, a proactive approach to the management of bathing water quality and greater public participation.
Appendix 5.1 of Water Quality in Ireland 2007-2009: Summary statistics for individual transitional and coastal water bodies assessed between 2007-2009., January 2013
Year: 2013
The monitoring results for 89 Irish transitional (estuarine) and coastal waterbodies 2007-2009 are summarised. The results should be read in conjunction with Chapter 5 of Water Quality in Ireland 2007-2009.
Appendix 4.1 of Water Quality in Ireland 2007-2009: Irish Lake Trophic Status and Ecological Status 2007-2009, January 2013
Year: 2013
Trophic status for 222 lakes determined by chlorophyll, total phosphorus, transparency and ecological status by a fuller suite of biological quality elements. Read in conjunction with main report Chapter Four.
Appendix 3-3 of Water Quality in Ireland 2007-2009, January 2013
Year: 2013
Statistics for individual river sites monitored for WFD purposes.
Appendix 3.1 of Water Quality in Ireland 2007-2009, January 2013
Year: 2013
An overview of the approach to defining ecological status for the Water Framework Directive is given. the distinction between water quality sensu strictu and ecological status is made and chemical status is also discussed.
An assessment of drought flow conditions in Irish Rivers in the years 1989, 1990 and 1991 including a comparison with 1975 and 1976, December 2012
Year: 2012
The most severe drought flows recorded occurred in 1975 and 1976. The climatic conditions that caused those droughts are examined in this document. The drought flows of 1989, 1990 and 1991 are compared with 1975 and 1976.
Year: 2012
This report examines the rainfall pattern and low river flows that were recorded at selected rainfall and hydrometric stations in 1995 and compares them to the rainfall pattern and low river flows that occured in the drought year 1976.
