Safeguarding Water Quality
Water systems infrastructure across Ireland faces significant challenges, particularly in adapting to European environmental, and regulatory demands. Ireland must meet the rigorous requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive and Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive or be penalised heavily. Our researchers are addressing these challenges with policymakers, researchers, and industry ensuring quality infrastructure.
Through our research we are:
Reducing farming pollution in Irish Waters
Reducing pollution in Ireland’s rivers, lakes, and estuaries is vital, with over 50% failing to meet EU standards due to agricultural runoff. Research by Dr. Patrick Quille, Dr. Joanna Kacprzyk and Associate Prof. Carl Ng at University College Dublin offers a solution: an algal bio stimulant that cuts farmers use of chemical fertilizer by 25%, without sacrificing crop quality. This breakthrough led to a new range of products by Terra fertilizer and demonstrates how research helps protect our waterways and support farmers’ livelihoods—paving the way for a greener future in agriculture.
Improving our Water Treatment Plants
In 2023, 350,000 people were issued boil water notices by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in Greater Dublin due to water treatment plant failures. Environmental Engineer Dr. Mohamad Ali, Trinity College Dublin, has developed new water filtration technology using graphene-based material that selectively filters out heavy metals, bacteria, and even viruses, while allowing clean water molecules to filter. This innovation offers Ireland a cost-effective and scalable solution to improve our water quality.
On-the-spot Testing for Public Bathing Water
Across parts of Ireland, heavy rain is washing animal and human waste into our water supplies. Increasingly Shiga toxigenic E. coli (STEC), a dangerous pathogen is found in Irish bathing water. These bacteria cause severe illness if young children and vulnerable populations are exposed to them. Researchers Dr. Zina Alfahl and Dr. Louise O’Connor, University of Galway, have developed a groundbreaking portable technology for rapid, on-the-spot testing of water quality. This innovation prevents life-threatening infections and protects public health.
Monitoring Quality of Public Water
Much of Ireland’s water supply infrastructure, especially in older urban areas, consists of water mains that are over 100 years old. Prof. Fiona Regan’s cutting-edge research at Dublin City University, has developed sensor technology, transforming Irish water monitoring, to detect threatening pollutants. Her technology provides data to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), local government, Irish Water, allowing faster responses to protect Irish water ecosystems and public health.