The River Suir has a Green and Blue Future
The River Suir rises in the Devil’s Bit mountain northwest of Templemore and carves its way through the stunning landscapes of […]
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Catchment Stories
‘And a river runs through it’ – Eco Eye looks at the Blackwater River Catchment
On March 1st 2016 Eco Eye’s Anja Murray looked at the Blackwater River, examining it as a microcosm of many […]
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Local Authorities – New Waters and Communities office
In July 2014, The Department of Environment, Community & Local Government issued the European Union (Water Policy) Regulations 2014, which […]
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Dublin Bay – A UNESCO Biosphere
On June 24th 2015, the designation of Dublin Bay Biosphere was announced. Biospheres are internationally recognised for their biological diversity yet […]
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Crayfish plague in Lough Gowna Catchment, Cavan
Crayfish background For those who aren’t already aware of their existence, crayfish are native to Irish lakes, rivers, streams and […]
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A beginners guide to Integrated Catchment Management and the EPA’s role
Water is a precious resource, and is essential for all life on earth. Managing our water so it can meet […]
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Coad Bog BioBlitz provided chances for active learning and scientific discoveries
The Coad Bog Bioblitz that took place from the 20th-27th May in County Kerry was a wonderful success. The Irish Peatland […]
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The Water Policy Advisory Committee: joined-up policy-making and the Water Framework Directive
In 2014, the Minister for the Environment introduced the European Union (Water Policy) Regulations 2014 which set out a new […]
Read MoreWho is involved?
Quite 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.
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.
Environmental Protection Agency
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.
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
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.