The Bathing Water Directive
The Bathing Water Directive 76/160/EEC sets quality standards for Bathing Water. All countries in the European Union have to ensure that their Bathing Waters meet these standards. In Northern Ireland compliance with the directive is generally good.
Bathing water quality is monitored by the 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 based in Lisburn. The bathing season in Northern Ireland runs from June through to mid-September. Water quality is assessed on 20 occasions during this period.
The directive requires each country to identify its most popular bathing waters for regular testing. In Northern Ireland 16 sites were formally identified in 1988 and an additional 11 sites were also monitored. Following a review, the number of identified bathing waters in Northern Ireland was increased to 23. The locations of these bathing waters, all of which are coastal, are shown in the map below.
On June 30th, 2008, the number of identified bathing waters in Northern Ireland rose to 24 with the formal addition of Portballintrae (Salmon Rock) Co. Antrim to the list. The map below will be modified in due course. This newly included bathing water has been monitored along with the other 23 identified sites since the start of the 2008 bathing season.
