Skip to main content
Search for a licence or permit（https://www.epa.ie/our-services/licensing/licencesearch/）
Freshwater and Marine
The EPA works with others to monitor and assess the health of our rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters under the Water Framework Directive.
Catchments.ie - water from source to sea（https://www.catchments.ie/）
Catchments.ie shares science and stories about water quality in Ireland.
Beaches.ie（https://www.beaches.ie/）
Beaches.ie provides the latest bathing water quality and beach information.
What can you do about water quality?
Contact your local Community Water Officer（https://lawaters.ie/team/communities-team/#filter=*） Check your septic tank（https://www.epa.ie/environment-and-you/waste-water/septic-tanks/） Check your local beach water quality（https://www.beaches.ie/） Learn about your local catchment（https://www.catchments.ie）
Water quality in Ireland
What do you need to know about water quality?
Water Quality in Ireland
Clean water is essential for people, wildlife and the environment. While many of Ireland's waters remain in good condition, the overall quality of our rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters has declined in recent years.
Just over half of our surface waters are in satisfactory ecological health - being in either good or high ecological status. Excess nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus from agriculture and wastewater, remain the main pressure affecting water quality.
Read more about the EPA's assessments of water quality and agriculture（https://www.epa.ie/environment-and-you/freshwater-and-marine/water-quality-and-agriculture/）.
Nitrates and phosphorous
Excess nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, remain one of the main pressures affecting water quality in Ireland. Nutrients from agriculture, wastewater and other human activities can enter rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters and groundwater. When nutrient levels become too high, they can cause excessive growth of algae and aquatic plants, reducing oxygen levels and harming aquatic life such as insects and fish.
Water quality monitoring shows that nutrient levels remain too high in many parts of the country, particularly in areas vulnerable to nitrogen losses. While some local improvements have been recorded, overall water quality has shown little improvement in recent years. Continued action to reduce nutrient losses is needed to protect and restore water quality.
Read the latest Monitoring & Assessment: Freshwater & Marine Publications | Environmental Protection Agency（https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/freshwater--marine/）
What's being done?
The Water Framework Directive
Our rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal and groundwaters are assessed under the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). This EU law came into effect in December 2000. Having a single European framework to assess water quality allows us to compare our results across Europe.
Our surface waters are classified into five quality classes (status) under the WFD: High, Good, Moderate, Poor and Bad.
"High" is when the water is unpolluted, and "Bad" is when the water is highly polluted. Our ground waters fall into two quality classes (status) under the WFD: "Good" and "Poor".
The WFD allows us to see where actions are needed to achieve "Good" status or to protect "Good" or "High" status where it already exists. It also helps us identify what actions need to be taken. We can restore rivers to Good and High status by using targeted actions and measures to reduce the impact of human activities.
The River Basin Management Plan
The River Basin Management Plan outlines Ireland's policy response to the challenge of protecting and restoring water quality. The plan is published on a 6 year cycle by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It includes targeted actions and measures to protect and restore water quality.
Learn about the River Basin Management Plan 2022-2027（https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/policy-information/river-basin-management-plan-2022-2027/）
Featured reports on Freshwater & Marine（https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/freshwater--marine/）
in:
Freshwater & Marine
Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2025（https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/freshwater--marine/bathing-water-quality-in-ireland-in-2025.php）
Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2025
The EPA Bathing Water report sets out bathing water quality at Ireland's beaches during the summer of 2025 bathing water season.
Water Quality in Ireland 2025 - An Indicators Report（https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/freshwater--marine/water-quality-in-ireland-2025.php）
Water Quality in Ireland 2025 - An Indicators Report
This report looks at how Ireland’s water quality has changed in 2025, using the latest monitoring data for rivers, lakes, groundwater, estuaries and coastal waters.
Water quality monitoring report on nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in Irish waters 2025（https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/freshwater--marine/water-quality-monitoring-report-on-nitrogen-and-phosphorus-concentrations-in-irish-waters-2025.php）
Water quality monitoring report on nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in Irish waters 2025
This report provides an update on the results of water quality monitoring to support the assessment of the impact of the nitrates derogation on Irish waters, as required under Regulation 39 of the European Union (Good Agricultural Practices for the Protection of Waters) (Amendment) Regulations.