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 current three-yearly assessment has found close to half of Ireland's surface waters are in an unsatisfactory ecological condition.
This 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% of all these water bodies are in satisfactory ecological health, down from 54% three years ago.
Estuaries and coastal lagoons came out worst with 70% 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.