Monitoring & assessment: 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. Fresh, clean water is vital for all life on earth. Ireland has some of the best water quality and cleanest beaches in Europe. Ireland’s climate means that there is usually enough water to meet the needs of its people and the surrounding environment.

Browse by Freshwater and Marine

Rivers

Learn more about the national river monitoring programme of the EPA.

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Lakes

Learn more about the lakes monitoring programme of the EPA.

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Lake monitoring programme

Estuaries and coastal waters

Learn more about the marine monitoring programme of the EPA.

Estuaries and coastal waters

Marine monitoring programme

Groundwater

The EPA role in monitoring Groundwater in Ireland

Groundwater

Catchment science and management

The EPA Water Programme works with others so we have the best understanding of the health of our waters.

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Catchment science and management

Latest publications in Freshwater & Marine

Water Quality in Ireland 2023 Indicators report lrg feature item

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

Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2023

A report for the year 2023

The 2023 EPA Bathing Water report sets out bathing water quality at Ireland's designated bathing waters.

Water Quality in Ireland 2016 – 2021

Summary Report

This report provides summary information on the status of our rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters (known collectively as surface waters) and groundwaters. It is based on information collected over a 6-year period from 2016 to 2021 under Ireland’s national water quality monitoring programme from over 4,000 surface water bodies and 514 groundwater bodies.

Latest News and Press Releases

in: Freshwater and Marine

Water quality has improved in some areas but continues to decline overall

Date released: October 13, 2025

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published our flagship Water Quality in Ireland Report 2019-2024, which provides the latest, 3-yearly assessment of the quality of Ireland’s rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters, canals and groundwaters.

Early insights into river nitrogen levels indicate an increase in the first half of 2025

Date released: September 17, 2025

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the Early Insights Nitrogen Indicator report for the first six-months of 2025.

New updates to EPA tools for targeting agricultural measures to protect water quality

Date released: August 07, 2025

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published updated evidence to further support the targeting of agricultural measures to protect and improve water quality.