This section presents the number of waterbodies significantly impacted by the urban wastewater pressure category. 

The EPA carries out a characterisation process which is used to identify significant pressures on a rolling-basis. The characterisation assessment period used in this Sectoral Action Work Plan is 2016-2021, consistent with the Water Action Plan 2024. The dynamic nature of the characterisation process may explain differences in the numbers of waterbodies impacted by this sector in this Sectoral Action Work Plan compared to live data.

The number of waterbodies impacted by urban wastewater has been falling since the first iteration of the list in 2016. 

Table 1: Change in number of ‘at risk’ waterbodies impacted by urban wastewater pressures

The following tables provide the number of waterbodies significantly impacted by the urban wastewater pressure sub-categories, which include wastewater treatment plants as well as the wastewater network. Note that one or both of these pressure subcategories can be impacting on any one waterbody.

High Status Objective waterbodies

High Status Objective or ‘Blue Dot’ waterbodies are a priority for the Water Action Plan. These are waterbodies that must achieve the highest level of water quality, High Status. There are 402 Blue Dot waterbodies in Ireland. 

Table 2: Number of Blue Dot waterbodies with a significant pressure group related to the sector.

All Waterbodies

Table 3: Number of waterbodies with a significant pressure group related to the sector.

Waterbodies with Sole Significant Pressure

Table 4: Number of waterbodies where the sector is the single/sole significant pressure