The Sustainable Water Network
Threats to
Our Waters
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Threats to Our Waters
Ireland’s water environment is in crisis. Water quality is declining and water pollution is rising at an unprecedented rate. Despite the requirement of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) that all our rivers, lakes and coastal waters should be ecologically healthy by 2027, numerous EPA reports have highlighted ongoing declines in water quality.
Presently, more than half of our rivers, lakes and estuaries are in an unhealthy state (47%, 50% and 62% respectively) and river water pollution is on the rise. Furthermore, we’ve lost most of our pristine river stretches, down from over 500 in the late 80s to a mere 41 today. Read More
Our Work

The Issues
There are a diverse range of pressures from human activity on our waters and SWAN works to raise awareness and influence national policy so as to address these and secure maximum protection for Ireland’s aquatic resources. Find out more.

Policy & Advocacy
The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) works in a number of policy areas related to the water environment, advocating for maximum protection for Ireland’s aquatic resources. Find out more.

Campaigns
The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) works on a number of campaigns to protect and enhance our water environment. Find out more.
Latest News & Events

2020 Education Programme
November 13th

Filium morte multavit si sine metu contineret
November 10th

Certe, inquam, pertinax non intellegamus
October 7th
Latest News & Events
Higher emission targets for agriculture are not only crucial for our climate, but for water & air quality, biodiversity, and food security say civil society NGOs
The Environmental Pillar, the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition and the...
Read MoreeNGOs sound alarm that our best chance to save our water environment is being lost
The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) today launched a campaign outside...
Read MoreMistakes of poor-planning on land risk being repeated at sea with Ireland’s first marine plan, SWAN commissioned report finds.
A SWAN commissioned research report released today which looks at...
Read More