Water Quality

The Environment Section looks after the quality of Surface Waters in our County, i.e., rivers, lakes and streams. Under the Water Framework Directive (WFD), a management program is in place to monitor and improve the quality of our surface waters within our river basin district. Under the management plan, key potential pollution sources have been identified as -

• pollution from Urban waste water treatment plants
• agricultural sources of pollution 
• unsewered waste water discharges.

Only discharges which have been licensed with a Discharge License are permitted to discharge to surface waters.  

It is an offence under Section 3 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts, 1977 and 1990 to cause or permit any polluting matter to enter waters. A person who permits polluting matter to enter waters shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to prosecution by the Local Authority, the Fisheries Board or any other person.

 If you are aware of a person allowing polluting matter to enter any waters, please contact the environment section of Laois County Council.