Suir Catchment

The Suir catchment includes the area drained by the River Suir and all streams entering tidal water between Drumdowney and Cheekpoint, Co. Waterford, draining a total area of 3,542km². The Suir Catchment covers parts of several counties, including Tipperary, Waterford, Kilkenny, Laois, Cork and Limerick. The largest urban centre in the catchment is Waterford City. The other main urban centres in this catchment are Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel, Cahir, Thurles, Tipperary, Fethard and Templemore. The total population of the catchment is approximately 184,861. The Suir Catchment is divided into 29 subcatchments and has 179 surface water bodies and 43 groundwater bodies. Of the 222 water bodies, 168 are river water bodies, 7 lakes, 4 transitional and 43 ground water bodies. There is one heavily modified or artificial water body in the Suir Catchment. This is located in the Lower Suir Estuary (Little Island – Cheekpoint).

The most recent EPA report “Water Quality in Ireland 2019-2024” showed that in the Suir catchment, 36% of surface water bodies are in Good/High ecological status which included 31% of river waterbodies, 57% of lakes and the 4 transitional waterbodies were at moderate and poor status. The campaign aims to support farmers to improve water quality where it is not yet satisfactory in areas where agriculture is an issue.

Read more about the Better Farming for Water campaign in the Suir catchment in the Suir Catchment Action Plan.