Despite reductions in 2024, nitrogen levels in rivers in the south east of the country are still too high, according to a report by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Early Insights Nitrogen Indicator for 2024 report, which is based on data at 20 major rivers across the county, revealed that further reductions will be needed to bring water quality to satisfactory levels.
The report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cites agriculture as the primary source of the issue, with wastewater also contributing.
Location of the early insights nitrogen indicator monitoring stations and their contributing catchment areas. Image via EPA press.Director of the EPA's office of evidence and assessment Doctor Eimear Cotter said these early signs of improvement are "very welcome".
"It is important that the sector builds on this momentum and continues to implement actions to reduce nutrient losses in a targeted way," she said.
Programme manager with the EPA Jenny Deakin said the results follow a period of "little positive change in recent years".
"Further actions will be necessary to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus losses to levels which will support good ecological health in our water bodies," she said.
"The ecology will not improve until nutrient levels are reduced in areas where they are elevated."
In December 2024, the EPA said that preliminary findings showed that nitrogen concentrations were at the lowest levels seen since 2016.
Risk to human health
Nitrogen is known to stimulate the growth of algae which, at moderate levels, can serve as food for aquatic creatures including fish.
However, excessive concentrations will lead to an overgrowth of algae which can deplete the amount of oxygen in the water.
This has negative consequences for biodiversity, fisheries and recreational activities.
Nitrate concentrations above the drinking water standard can also pose a risk to human health, particularly for young children.
A three-yearly assessment of water quality in Ireland for the 2019-2024 period will be published by the EPA later this year.
Main image: River Bandon as it nears Kinsale, County Cork, Republic of Ireland. Image: Ken Welsh / Alamy. 24 August 2016
