29 rivers in Meath and seven in Louth are also classed as 'poor'

The overall quality of surface water in Ireland is continuing to decline despite a drop in levels of excess phosphorous and nitrogen in the country's rivers and lakes.

The Environmental Protection Agency's latest Water Quality In Ireland report from 2019-2024 has found close to half of Ireland's surface waters are in an unsatisfactory ecological condition.

The report is based on information, collected over the six years up to 2024, relating to water quality and pollution in 3,189 rivers, more than 800 lakes, 160 estuaries, almost 100 coastal waters, 512 groundwater bodies, and 16 canals.

It says just over half, 52 per cent of all these water bodies are in satisfactory ecological health, down from 54 per cent three years ago.

Estuaries and coastal lagoons came out worst with 70 per cent deemed unsatisfactory.

The main pressures impacting on water quality are excess nutrients coming mainly from agriculture, urban wastewater discharges, and damage to the physical condition of water habitats from activities such as land and river drainage, forestry and urban development.

It found there is evidence that nutrient levels are reducing in areas where actions are being targeted, however the scale and pace of implementation needs to be increased.

At the current level of progress, Ireland will fail to meet the EU and national goal of restoring all waters to good or better status by 2027.

One river in Meath is ranked as having a high ecological status, five in Louth and 16 in Meath are classed as Good, 37 in Meath and 113 in Louth are categorised as Moderate, and 29 in Meath and seven in Louth are classed as poor.

Forty eight transitional water bodies (30%) are in high or good ecological status and 112 (70%) are in moderate,

poor or bad ecological status.

Locally, two are classed as poor - the Boyne Estuary and Inner Dundalk Bay.

The main biological element responsible for determining their status are fish and phytoplankton respectively.

* 80 coastal water bodies (82%) are in high or good ecological status. 14 coastal water bodies (15%) are

in moderate ecological status, 2 are poor and 1 is in bad status. In terms of surface area, 98% of coastal

waters are in high or good ecological status.

* 20% of transitional and coastal water bodies have nitrogen concentrations that are too high.

* Loadings of phosphorus and nitrogen to the marine environment have shown a reduction in 2024 after a

period of increases since 2013. The largest inputs are in the south east of the country and in many areas

are still too high, despite the recent reductions

EPA report finds Boyne Estuary and Inner Dundalk Bay have poor ecological status