Clean Air Together Waterford City – the Results
300 citizen scientists find low level of pollution from traffic across Waterford City.
- Clean Air Together Waterford gives a snapshot of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels, a traffic-related air pollutant, across Waterford city and environs.
- In 2025, over 300 citizen scientists in Waterford helped take samples of air to measure levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in their local areas, as part of the Clean Air Together project.
- 85 % of locations returned results in the lowest category for NO2 with another 14 per cent in the next lowest category.
- Higher results were found along some of the busiest roads in Waterford City such as Meagher’s Quay, Merchants Quay and Summer Hill.
- The results will be used by the EPA to help model air quality in Waterford City and support evidence-based planning and action by the Council on how people live and move around the city.
In 2025, over 300 citizen scientists measured levels of the harmful air pollutant, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), in Waterford city and environs as part of the Clean Air Together Waterford project. Results from the study were presented to the people of Waterford at a public event hosted in SETU Campus. This large-scale citizen science project was led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with Waterford City and County Council, and with support from Kilkenny County Council and the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce.
Commenting on the project, Patrick Byrne, EPA Director, said:
“Clean Air Together Waterford has been a great success, with hundreds of citizen scientists in the city measuring the levels of traffic pollution in their local areas. This campaign has given us all a very valuable snapshot of nitrogen dioxide levels across Waterford city and environs, and has provided important new data about this air pollutant to complement the EPA’s existing air quality monitoring network. This project would not have been possible without the engagement and commitment of Waterford’s citizen scientists, whose interest in learning about air pollutants and improving their local environment is clearly evident”.
Nitrogen dioxide levels across Waterford and its surroundings were generally low, with 85 per cent of results falling in the lowest NO2 category. 14 per cent of results fell within the next lowest NO2 category . Higher levels of NO2 were found near busy roads in the city centre which can be expected given that traffic is the main source of NO2 in our towns and cities. While higher results measured are within current EU Air Quality limits, these areas will require focus with more stringent air quality limits coming into force from 2030.
Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Séamus Ryan added,
“These results are encouraging, with most locations showing low levels of traffic-related pollution, but we cannot be complacent. Where higher readings were identified along busy routes such as Meagher’s Quay and Merchants Quay, we now have clear evidence to guide our next steps. Clean air is not just an environmental issue, it’s a public health issue, and this project gives us the knowledge to protect both.”
The information gathered through Clean Air Together will be used by the EPA to inform its air quality modelling and forecasting. The information will also support evidence-based decision-making by Waterford City and County Council, in areas such as transport and active travel planning, while supporting initiatives aimed at raising awareness and promoting practical actions to address air pollution.
Results from the Clean Air Together Waterford project are available on the Clean Air Together project site.
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