From Donegal, for Donegal: Local people working to protect water quality

From winding country roads to coastal routes and hilltop villages, Uisce Éireann’s sampling vans have become part of the Donegal landscape. Behind them is a proud, homegrown team carrying out vital work to protect the county’s water and environment.

Based at the Goldrum Water Treatment Plant, the Donegal sampling team consists of Sampling Officers Michael McMenamin and Sabrina Mongan, led by Sampling Supervisor Dearbhaile MacIntyre. All three are Letterkenny IT graduates who have chosen to build their careers within their native county.

Between them, the trio is responsible for carrying out accredited water and wastewater sampling at more than 100 locations across County Donegal. Their work involves collecting samples from Uisce Éireann’s drinking water sources, treatment plants and wastewater assets, carefully recording and documenting each sample to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the data gathered. This information plays a critical role in monitoring water quality, protecting public health, and ensuring compliance with environmental and regulatory standards.

Leading the team is Sampling Supervisor Dearbhaile from Ramelton who says the opportunity to both study and build a career in Donegal has been a major positive for her.

“Being educated here in Donegal and then being able to build a career in the county is a real bonus.  I’m incredibly proud to be part of this team. We’re all Donegal people, and there’s something very special about working close to home through Uisce Éireann. Seeing the positive impact of our work every day is something I take great pride in.”

For Sabrina, a native of Barnesmore Gap, the job continues a strong family connection to water services. Her father, Noel, has long worked as a caretaker in Ballyshannon Water Treatment Plant, and his dedication to water quality inspired her to follow a similar path. A farmer herself, Sabrina says the role complements both her professional interests and her love of working outdoors.

“I really love being out and about across Donegal. No two days are ever the same, and the variety of the job means I’m constantly learning. Being a farmer as well, I already have a strong connection to the land, so working outdoors and protecting water sources fits very naturally with what I do outside of work.”

Michael, from Castlefinn, also feels a strong sense of pride in being able to work close to home and as a farmer too, his respect for the environment runs deep.

“It’s great to be able to work locally here in Donegal. Being part of a team that’s out in the community every day, doing work that directly benefits County Donegal, really means a lot. When you’re farming, you see firsthand how important clean water and healthy land are,” he added.

The team also follows strict safety and quality assurance procedures while out in the field, maintaining and calibrating specialist sampling equipment and ensuring samples are transported correctly for laboratory analysis. Responsibility for this work has transitioned from a private provider to the team.

Working to detailed sampling schedules, Sabrina, Michael and Dearbhaile respond to emerging issues on the network and support wider operational teams by providing reliable, high quality data that helps identify risks and guide decision making. 

The work of the Donegal sampling team plays a vital role in protecting the county’s natural environment. By closely monitoring both water and wastewater assets, the team helps to safeguard Donegal’s rivers, lakes, coastal waters and groundwater sources from pollution and environmental harm.

Accurate and timely sampling allows Uisce Éireann to identify potential risks early, support effective treatment processes and ensure that wastewater discharges meet strict environmental standards. This is particularly important in a county like Donegal, where clean water underpins local communities, agriculture, fisheries, tourism and biodiversity. 

The work of Dearbhaile, Michael and Sabrina across the county helps to strike a balance between meeting the needs of communities today and protecting Donegal’s natural resources for future generations.

Much of this work happens quietly behind the scenes, but it is essential to safeguarding the county’s environment for the future.

With strong local roots, farming backgrounds, and a shared commitment to their communities, the Donegal sampling team brings both professional expertise and personal pride to their work. Though still a relatively new team, they have already developed a strong sense of camaraderie and purpose, united by their dedication to serving Donegal and protecting the county they call home.