The components of an Environmental Management System (EMS) (as defined under the ISO 14001 specification, EMAS Regulation or in a license) incorporates: Baseline Environmental Review/Audit Planning Environmental Policy Environmental Objectives and Targets EM Programme Implementation and Operation Operational Control Emergency Preparedness and Response Responsibility Allocation Awareness and Training Communications Check and Review Checks and Corrective...

Up to 90% of the country’s 1.35 million households will start paying water charges from 2014, according to a new report prepared for the Government. Consumers will also pay VAT on top of their bills, as a private company, Irish Water, will be charging for the services instead of a public body.   The water...

The European Environment Agency (EEA) report which was presented at the 6th World Water Forum in Marseille stated that the continent’s water resources were under pressure, limited supplies were being wasted, and nations had to implement existing legislation more effectively. The EEA report is the first of five water-themed reports that the agency planned to...

Groundwater is the water that trickles through the soil and into underlying rocks during the Water Cycle. Once in the bedrock the water moves slowly through and is stored in the pores or cracks in the rock.  If enough water is stored in this way in a bedrock deposit, it is referred to as an aquifer. Groundwater seeps up...

The WFD was created in December 2000 and implemented in 2003 with the aim of improving the quality of our water environment. Its purpose is also to integrate existing European directives into the new legislation. The directive requires each Member State to implement changes to the management of water bodies, taking account of all aspects of the...

The World of Water is a website that has been developed to educate and promote a positive attitude towards our freshwater environments. The course Our Water, Our Resource, Our Responsibility is available for download from the website. This course was developed for adults and second level students and explains many of the issues pertaining to water management. Course notes...

View Drinking Water Quality data for the Public Water Supply and for Public and Private Group Water Schemes on the Limerick County Council Drinking Water Quality Information System. http://www.lcc.ie/waterworks/

The European Communities (Environmental Liability) Regulations 2008, (SI 547 of 2008) came into force in Ireland on 1 April 2009 with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage. Environmental liability is based on the “polluter-pays” principle.  The Regulations introduced a positive reporting obligation on operators in respect of actual or threatened environmental damage....

Regulation 7 of the Groundwater Regulations states that “Point source discharges and diffuse sources liable to cause groundwater pollution shall be controlled so as to prevent or limit the input of pollutants into groundwater”. This ‘prevent or limit’ objective is the core groundwater quality objective.  In principle, ‘prevent or limit’ measures are the first line...

Regulation 4 of the Groundwater Regulations (S.I. No. 9 of 2010) places a duty on public authorities to promote compliance with the requirements of the regulations and to take all reasonable steps to: prevent or limit the input of pollutants into groundwater prevent the deterioration of the status of all bodies of groundwater protect, enhance...