Updated / Wednesday, 17 Jun 2026 15:07
Excess nutrients from agriculture and wastewater comprise the biggest challenges, according to the EPA report (stock image)
Annual data from the Environmental Protection Agency on the quality of Ireland's waters shows no major improvements were achieved in 2025 and that standards are still unsatisfactory in many areas.
Excess nutrients from agriculture and wastewater comprise the biggest challenges, with phosphorous and nitrate levels still higher than recommended.
The EPA says the pace and scale of measures to restore water quality needs to be improved.
The report gives a yearly update on the key indicators when it comes to the health of Ireland's rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal regions. Just over half are said to be in good or better biological quality.
Nutrient levels fluctuate year on year - they remain too high and any improvements are not being sustained.
More rivers declined in quality class than improved in 2025
When excessive levels of nitrogen or phosphorus get into the water they can cause algae to overgrow, depleting oxygen levels and impacting the overall balance of the habitat.
43% of rivers have nitrate concentrations that are too high, with the problem particularly pronounced in the east and southeast.
Over 30% of lakes have phosphorous concentrations that are too high and this issue is especially apparent in the border region.
While the overall national picture shows no sign of improving, the EPA says there are localised success stories, that can help with the wider effort to enhance water quality.
There has been no significant improvement in national river water quality, the EPA has said
In the Ballyteigue Bannow catchment in Co Wexford, six of the 16 rivers surveyed in 2025 improved in biological quality.
Dr Jenny Deakin of the EPA said it was important to determine what specific changes had occurred there, so that information could be used to inform actions elsewhere.
The agency says wider actions must match the scale of the problem. It has called for targeted actions tailored to specific water bodies, to accelerate the effort to improve water quality.
Read full report here
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Ireland