Clean Air Together (CAT) is a citizen science project where people voluntarily sign up to measure levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) pollution in their local area. NO₂ is predominantly a traffic-related air pollutant that can cause negative health impacts. NO₂ particularly impacts children, people with pre-existing heart and lung conditions such as asthma, outdoor workers, the elderly, and those communities who may be more exposed to air pollution because of where they live or work.  

Clean Air Together began in October 2021, when approximately 1,000 citizens across Dublin measured NO₂ levels near their homes, workplaces, or schools. This was followed by a second campaign in Cork City in October 2022, involving over 700 participants. Subsequent campaigns took place in Galway and Limerick, with around 300 and 400 participants respectively. The fifth and final phase was delivered in October 2025, engaging more than 300 participants across Waterford City and environs. 

Clean Air Together Waterford is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) led project, in partnership with Waterford City & County Council and with support from Kilkenny County Council. The project aims to create a better understanding of NO₂ air pollution across Waterford city.  

Hundreds of participants - residents, businesses and community groups – took part in the Clean Air Together Waterford project and thousands have engaged in the projects across the five cities to date. This huge level of public interest and the volume of results points to a public willingness to participate in citizen science and illustrates the success of the initiative. The EPA therefore extends a massive THANK YOU to all who participated, supported, and gathered important data on NO₂ pollution in all five cities by measuring NO₂ levels outside their property. The work could not have been done without you. 

The map above shows the NO₂ measurements gathered by Clean Air Together Waterford for October 2025. You can click on a dot to see the level of NO₂ measured at a location of interest.

The pie chart below shows the distribution of Clean Air Together Waterford results.

Nitrogen Dioxide levels across Waterford city and environs were generally low, with 85% of study results falling in the lowest NO₂ category (0-10 µg/m³) and a further 14% falling in the next lowest category (10-20 µg/m³).  

Higher levels (20-30 µg/m³) of NO₂ were found along some of the following busy roads in Waterford, which can be expected as NO₂ comes mainly from traffic: 

• Meagher’s Quay 

• Merchants Quay  

• Summer Hill  

The results clearly show the impact of traffic on NO₂ air pollution levels: the more traffic there is, the higher the levels of NO₂.   

Moving outwards to the suburbs and away from major roads, the measurements drop to lower levels of NO₂ (dark and light blue dots).  

The results also suggest that the greater the distance between a dwelling and a busy road, the lower the NO₂ levels. NO₂ quickly reduces with distance, for example a long front garden or living on an upper floor of an apartment building can offer some protection against NO₂ pollution. 

KEEP IN MIND 

The Clean Air Together results provide an indicative snapshot of the level of NO₂ measured over the month of October 2025. 

NO₂ levels vary over the year with changing traffic volumes and weather conditions.  

Therefore, the results cannot be compared directly with the EU Air Quality Directive’s NO₂ annual average limit of 40 μg/m³ or the World Health Organisation’s recommendation that NO₂ levels do not exceed an annual average limit of 10 μg/m³. However, the recommended values in these guidelines can be kept in mind as indicators as to where the results lie. 

REMEMBER, THE LOWER THE LEVELS OF NO₂, THE BETTER FOR EVERYONE’S HEALTH. 

FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE MANY ONGOING INITIATIVES IN PLACE TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND THERE ARE MANY SIMPLE ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE TO HELP! 

Scroll down to read more examples of what is being done and what you can do! 

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is an air pollutant that mainly comes from vehicle traffic. NO₂ levels change throughout the year because of: 

1. Traffic: As NO₂ is a traffic-related pollutant, the emissions are higher around busy roads. 

1. Weather: Weather can significantly influence how much NO₂ is in the air we breathe. In windy weather, pollution can move around whereas on very still, warm days pollution can hover and may be higher. 

1. Ventilation: The size of your surrounding streets can affect how much air pollution there is in your area. A narrow street with tall buildings can be more polluted than a wide street with lower buildings as there is less space for air to move around.

Being exposed to NO₂, even for short periods, can have harmful effects on our health and wellbeing. Short-term exposure to NO₂ is linked to adverse respiratory effects including airway inflammation in healthy people and increased respiratory symptoms in asthmatics. Long-term exposure is associated with increased risk of respiratory infection in children. National research shows that over 50’s living in Ireland in areas with higher levels of NO₂ are more likely to have asthma. 

NO₂ pollution also impacts the environment. It affects the quality of fresh water, soil, and ecosystems, and NO₂ can be absorbed to the atmosphere and later fall as something called ‘acid rain’ that can damage plant life and buildings. NO₂ also behaves like a greenhouse gas. 

EPA monitoring and computer modelling shows that in some urban areas NO₂ pollution is increasing. The EPA in collaboration with the Local Authorities manages a national network of air monitoring stations. The EPA has 115 monitoring sites throughout the country, two of which are in Waterford city. Real-time air quality data can be found on www.airquality.ie. 

While NO₂ is one of the main ambient air pollutants of concern in Ireland, there are other air pollutants of high concern such as Particulate Matter (PM) which comes from the burning of solid fuels. To learn more about how other air pollutants can impact your health and the environment, and what is being done to lower their levels go to www.epa.ie/environment-and-you/air. 

There are many ongoing initiatives in place that aim to reduce levels of NO₂ - and there are actions you can take to help too! 

At a national level the National Clean Air Strategy, Climate Action Plan, National Planning Framework,  and National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland have been adopted which all comprise actions that will help reduce levels of NO₂ across the country. These actions include among many:  

• A commitment for Ireland to achieve WHO air quality guidelines values. 

• Improve air quality and reduce pollution through integrated planning that promotes active travel, green and blue infrastructure and energy-efficient buildings.  

• Building more and safer cycle lanes and footpaths. 

• Investing in clean public transport and exploring the development of low emission zones. There are now multiple hybrid buses running in many towns / cities. 

• Building more electric-vehicle (EV) infrastructure and making it more accessible to purchase an EV as your next vehicle purchase. 

The need for clean air is fundamental to the health of citizens in Waterford. Waterford City and County Council are addressing air quality across a number of areas including transport, climate action, monitoring and regulation, as well as planning policy.  

Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022-2028 sets out a strategy for the sustainable development of the city. Air quality protection is provided for through measures such as sustainable low carbon transport systems with connectivity, ensuring new developments encourage walking, cycling and public transport use, integration of blue-green infrastructure as a key component in the planning process to promote sustainable development. 

Waterford’s Climate Action Plan 2024-2029 provides a range of measures to mitigate against and adapt to climate change. They include commitments on active travel projects across the city, focus on Waterford city as a decarbonising zone to reduce traffic emissions and trial climate adaptation and mitigation measures in the urban core. There is also commitment to transition the Council fleet to a low emission fleet.  

As part of the Council’s roadmap to delivering a Carbon Neutral Waterford by 2040, the Business Pledge for a Cleaner, Greener Waterford initiative invites local businesses to strive towards a cleaner, greener Waterford, and commit to completing at least two actions over 12 months to reduce the carbon footprint of their business and avail of a 9% discount on their commercial rates bill. The project was based on a baseline emissions inventory for Waterford City, which showed that businesses were the largest source of emissions, responsible for 28% of emissions. Over 1,000 businesses have taken the pledge, and Waterford City and County Council continues to work with these businesses to give them the support, resources and the advice they need to become more sustainable. Waterford City and County Council was successful in the Best Green Sustainable Initiative category at the recent All Ireland Community & Council Awards, for its Business Pledge for a Cleaner, Greener Waterford initiative. 

There are many simple steps you can take. Collectively, these steps can have a big impact on reducing the levels of NO₂ across Waterford. 

YOU can: 

• Think twice before using your car. One less journey a day or week can make a big difference! 

• Try to walk or cycle on shorter trips instead of using your car. This emits zero emissions and is a step towards a healthier lifestyle. Enquire with your company about the Bike to Work Scheme, safe and secure cycle parking and changing facilities at work. 

• Use public transport if it is an option for you instead of driving for longer journeys. 

• Do not idle – if your car is stopped or parked, turn off your engine.  

• Raise any concerns with your local public representative and get their support for cleaner air and healthier communities 

• Could you consider an electric vehicle for your next purchase? 

• Consider buying more local goods. Many items have travelled long distances to get to the supermarkets and each journey your purchased goods have made raises the amount of air pollution for other citizens and animal life on the planet. 

Tell others about what you have learned, and the changes you are making to improve the quality of air we breathe. You can do this in many ways including word of mouth, or through social and traditional media.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead (Anthropologist)