Policy
NIEA Policy on Water Quality
Water is one of our most vital natural resources. Not only is it essential to sustain life itself, but it also plays a crucial role in our economic development and social well-being. For centuries rivers, lakes, estuaries, seas and groundwater have played a vital role in everyday life. Today in Northern Ireland (NI) these water bodies are important natural resources for agriculture, industry and fisheries, for amenity and recreational use, for their value to tourism and as sources of drinking water. Many waters also support ecological habitats and species of national and international importance. Some of these uses can threaten the very water quality on which they depend. Pollution in the surrounding catchment can come from point sources such as industrial or sewage effluent discharges, or can be diffuse such as road or agricultural run-off. It is important that our water bodies are protected from pollution and managed as a sustainable resource for all of the activities that depend on them.
The aim of Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is to conserve, protect, and where possible, improve the aquatic environment, both marine and freshwater, in Northern Ireland.
NIEA policy in the field of water quality is:
"To maintain or improve quality in surface waters and waters in underground strata as required by national policy, EC Directives and international agreements, and to generally manage river, estuarine, and coastal waters to be at least "Good" under the adopted classification schemes with no downward movement between classes."
The Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (PDF 866kb)
The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (PDF 74kb)
Policy for Setting and Delivering Water Quality Targets (PDF 7880kb)
River Water Quality Monitoring Strategy for Northern Ireland (PDF 823Kb)
Lake Water Quality Monitoring Strategy for Northern Ireland (in preparation)
Policy & Practice for the Protection of Groundwater in Northern Ireland (PDF 1.31Mb)
A Groundwater Monitoring Strategy for Northern Ireland (PDF 723 Kb)
The Enforcement and Prosecution Policy (PDF 92.6Kb)
Managing the Water Environment in Northern Ireland 2000. (PDF 2.38Mb)
Marine Bill Consultation
A consultation paper published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in England, in liaison with the devolved administrations, which contains proposals for the strategic direction of policy development in five key areas, marine spatial planning, marine licensing, marine nature conservation, fisheries management and a Marine Management Organisation.
This consultation aims to ensure that all interested parties have the opportunity to contribute their opinions at an early stage of policy development. The document contains important questions about the strategic direction we should take, and what issues we should take into account, when developing our proposals for the Marine Bill.
To find out more, or to take part in this consultation process, visit the Department of Environment website.