Bathing Waters
Bathing water quality is monitored by Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). Water Quality Inspectors collect the water samples on behalf of the NIEA. The samples are then analysed by the Water Management Unit, Lisburn.
The bathing season in Northern Ireland runs from June through to mid-September. Water quality is assessed on 20 occasions during this period.
This information is updated weekly during this period and represented in the format of colour-coded posters. To view the 2008 Bathing Water Quality Posters click on the links below.
2008 Northern Ireland (North Coast) Bathing Water Quality Poster (.pdf 84.0 kB)
2008 Northern Ireland (Antrim Coast) Bathing Water Quality Poster (.pdf 74.0 kB)
2008 Northern Ireland (North Down) Bathing Water Quality Poster (.pdf 78.0 kB)
2008 Northern Ireland (South Down) Bathing Water Quality Poster (.pdf 75.0kB)
Environment Minister Sammy Wilson's Press Release Tuesday 13th November 2008
13 NOVEMBER 2008
BATHING WATER RESULTS SHOW IMPROVEMENT BUT FURTHER WORK TO BE DONE
Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) today released encouraging results on Northern Ireland’s bathing water quality.
All but one of Northern Ireland’s 24 identified bathing waters achieved the mandatory standards of the European Commission’s Bathing Water Directive.
Ballyholme was the only area which failed to meet the Directive’s requirements. However NIEA believe this was as a result of inadequacies in the local sewer network. Northern Ireland Water is addressing this with a scheduled upgrade of the local sewerage system later this year and which is due to be completed in early 2010.
Environment Minister Sammy Wilson was pleased that in spite of the wet summer, the vast majority of bathing waters met European Union standards.
The Minister said: “I am encouraged that despite another wet summer, only one bathing water failed to achieve the mandatory requirements for the Bathing Water Directive.
“Heavy and sustained rainfall affects bathing water quality as it increases overflows from sewer networks and run off from agricultural land. Heavy rain can also draw attention to deficiencies in our sewerage infrastructure and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) continues to press Northern Ireland Water to give a high priority to these issues.
“NIEA is working closely with all industrial sectors, especially the agriculture industry, to control all polluting discharges and minimise run off.”
2008 EC Bathing Water Directive Compliance Announcement
A summary of the details of this compliance is given in the table below. The data supporting this compliance assessment wil be published on this web site in due course. Bathing water managers please contact WaterInfo@doeni.gov.uk if you require this information urgently.
| Identified Bathing Water | 2008 EC Bathing Water Directive Compliance |
|---|---|
| Magilligan (Benone) | excellent |
| Magilligan (Downhill) | good |
| Castlerock | good |
| Portstewart | excellent |
| Portrush (Mill) West | good |
| Portrush (Curran) East | good |
| Portrush (Whiterocks | excellent |
| Portballintrae (Salmon Rock) | good |
| Ballycastle | good |
| Waterfoot | excellent |
| Carnlough | good |
| Ballygalley | good |
| Brown's Bay | good |
| Helen's Bay | excellent |
| Crawfordsburn | good |
| Ballyholme | poor |
| Groomsport | excellent |
| Millisle | good |
| Ballywalter | good |
| Tyrella | excellent |
| Murlough Co. Down | excellent |
| Newcastle Co Down | good |
| Cranfield (Nicholson's Strand) | excellent |
| Cranfield | excellent |