Report Highlights Outdated Bathing Water Regulations

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has stated that regulations designed to safeguard individuals swimming in Northern Ireland’s rivers and lakes require an update. A recent report from the OEP determined that existing requirements have “not kept pace” with the evolving methods of utilizing rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, suggesting that public protection could be enhanced. The report indicated that while current regulations primarily address swimming, subsequent reviews ought to encompass other recreational pursuits like surfing, paddleboarding, and wind-surfing. Furthermore, it highlighted a concentration on a “fixed bathing season” rather than acknowledging the year-round participation in these activities. Despite adherence to the regulations, the report concluded that they needed to be “updated” and advocated for an increase in water quality sampling frequency. The OEP has presented the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) with 11 recommendations aimed at revising the Bathing Water NI Regulations. Dame Glenys Stacey, who chairs the OEP, commented that with a rise in outdoor water activities, ensuring public health safety is paramount. She stated, “We have taken an in-depth look at the Bathing Water NI Regulations and found that they have fallen out of step with the needs of today.” She added, “They originate from developments in the 1970s and 1980s and have not kept pace with the evolving ways in which waters are now used.” Dame Glenys acknowledged that the regulations had previously resulted in “significant improvement.” She continued, “Nevertheless, the lack of overall improvement in water quality observed in recent years, combined with a number of bathing water sites failing to achieve sufficient or better standards, is a cause for concern and has been widely reported.” The recommendations include: This report follows a distinct OEP assessment which concluded that laws intended to protect water quality in Northern Ireland are not being implemented effectively, leading to missed targets. The previous report attributed this issue to a deficit of “site-specific information on measures to meet the required standards, and no clear indication for what overall levels of bathing water quality Daera aims for or expects to achieve.” Additionally, the OEP report expressed approval for the executive’s draft programme for government, which includes a commitment to tackle issues in Lough Neagh, a body of water significantly impacted by blue-green algae. Andrew Muir, the Agriculture and Environment Minister, expressed his welcome for the report, characterizing it as a “useful and constructive contribution” towards enhancing bathing water quality. He noted that certain recommendations, such as extending the current bathing season, were already being considered. Muir also stated that his department is gathering data to guide future policy decisions. He affirmed, “I agree there is more we can do together to improve bathing water quality… we can only protect bathing waters and public health by making sure that appropriate measures are implemented in catchments.” Muir further added, “I recognise that a source-to-sea approach is critical and will work across all sectors to secure improvements in water quality.”