Central Laboratory

Central Laboratory

The Central Laboratory can be contacted at Railway Road, Stranorlar, Lifford, Co. Donegal, F93 X273. It provides technical support to the Water & Environment Section of Donegal County Council. The facility consists of chemistry and microbiology laboratories and performs analysis as required by legislation.

The principal areas of interest are:

1. Private Drinking water quality monitoring
2. River catchment monitoring
3. Lake water monitoring
4. Monitoring of industries licensed to discharge under the Water Pollution Acts.
5. Landfill Monitoring
6. Bathing Water Quality Monitoring
7. Septic Tank Inspections under the National Inspection Plan
8. Farm Inspections under the National Agriculture Inspection Plan
9. Pollution investigation

Environmental Legislation

Drinking Water - Legislation Related to Water Quality

• EUROPEAN UNION (DRINKING WATER) REGULATIONS 2023, S.I. No. 99 of 2023
• S.I. No. 294 of 1989, European Communities (Quality of Surface Water Intended for the Abstraction of Drinking Water) Regulation, 1989.
• Water Services (no. 2) Act 2013.

Nitrates & Phosphorus - Legislation Related to Water Quality

• EUROPEAN UNION (GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE FOR PROTECTION OF WATERS) REGULATIONS 2022, S.I. No. 113 of 2022.
• S.I. No. 258 of 1998, Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977 (Water Quality Standards for Phosphorus) Regulations, 1998.

Water Pollution - Legislation relating to Discharge Control

• S.I. No. 42 of 1999, Local Government (Water Pollution) (Amendment) Regulations, 1999.
• S.I. No. 42 of 1999, Local Government (Water Pollution) (Amendment) Regulations, 1999.
• S.I. No. 184 of 1996, Local Government (Water Pollution) (Amendment) Regulations, 1996.
• Act No. 21 of 1990, Local Government (Water Pollution) (Amendment) Act, 1990.
• Act No. 1 of 1977, Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977.

Urban Waste Water Treatment - Legislation relating to Discharge Control

• Water Services Act 2007
• S.I. No. 254 of 2001, Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations, 2001.
• S.I. No. 267 of 2001, Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) (Amendment) Regulations, 2001.
• S.I. No. 148 of 1998, Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) Regulations, 1998.
• Act 10 of 1996, Waste Management Act, 1996.

Salmonid Waters and Fisheries - Legislation relating to Water Quality

• European Communities Environmental Objectives (Surface Water) Regulations2009 SI no. 272 of 2009
• S.I. No. 23 of 1997, Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997.
• S.I. No. 293 of 1988, European Communities (Quality of Salmonid Waters) Regulations, 1988.
• S.I. No. 14 of 1959, Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959.

Water Quality Legislation

• European Communities (Sustainable Use of Pesticides) Regulations 2012 SI no. 155 of 2012.
• Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 SI No. 79 of 2008.
• BATHING WATER QUALITY (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2024, SI No. 322 of 2024
• European Communities Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations 2010 SI No 9 of 2010.
• S.I. No. 722 of 2003, European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations, 2003.
• The EU Water Framework Directive was transposed into Irish Law by the passing of S.I. No. 722 of 2003 and establishes a new framework for the management and protection of water quality in Ireland by reference to river basin districts.

Other Legislation relating to Water Quality

• Act 37 of 2001, Local Government Act, 2001.
• Act 30 of 2000, Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 2000.
• Act 7 of 1992, Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992.
• Act 27 of 2003, Protection of the Environment Act, 2003. 

Septic Tanks 

• Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012 (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012 SI No 223 of 2012.
• Water Services Act 2007 (Appointment of Inspectors) Regulations 2013 SI No 190 of 2013.

Air 

• European Union (Installations and Activities using Organic Solvents) Regulations 2012 SI No 565 of 2012.
• European Union (Paints, Varnishes, Vehicle Refinishing Products and Activities) Regulations 2012 SI No 564 of 2012.
• Air Pollution Act 1987 (Marketing, Sale and Distribution of Fuels) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 SI No 270 of 2011.
• Air Pollution Act 1987 (Marketing, Sale, Distribution and Burning of Specified Fuels) Regulations2012 SI N0 326 of 2012.