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24/08/2007
NI Beaches Hit By Pollution Problems
Beach water quality on Northern Ireland strands has suffered this year due to the torrential rain and procession of storms across the UK and Ireland.
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has reported that Ballyholme, Carnlough and Newcastle have met only "Basic Pass" standards.
However, water quality at 85% of the UK’s bathing beaches were found to be of a ‘Good Standard’ following a mid-summer analysis of water quality data from 553 bathing sites.
MCS has warned that the number of UK beaches failing minimum legal standards for water quality, or only achieving a "Basic Pass", is significantly higher compared to this time last year, and 1 in 8 beaches have suffered a serious short-term pollution incident at some point during the first half of the summer.
In its ‘mid-season beach health check ‘ – an analysis of bathing water quality during the first ten weeks of the summer season, MCS concluded from weekly tests that standards remained generally good on UK beaches, despite May, June and July being the wettest on record. But storm related pollution has reduced 67 beaches to the basic legal water quality standard – double the number at this point last summer – and 71 beaches have suffered serious one-off pollution incidents.
MCS has called on the Government to provide public information on all bathing beaches, advising swimmers that coastal waters can be temporarily affected by increased pollution, with a consequent risk to bathers’ health, after heavy rain.
The Society has urged swimmers to be aware of possible pollution after severe rain or flooding, and where pollution occurs to wait at least 24 hours after the rain stops before entering the sea.
This mid-season beach report is derived from water quality samples from each of 553 official UK bathing beaches.
The results are published on the MCS Good Beach Guide website www.goodbeachguide.co.uk.
(SP/JM)
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has reported that Ballyholme, Carnlough and Newcastle have met only "Basic Pass" standards.
However, water quality at 85% of the UK’s bathing beaches were found to be of a ‘Good Standard’ following a mid-summer analysis of water quality data from 553 bathing sites.
MCS has warned that the number of UK beaches failing minimum legal standards for water quality, or only achieving a "Basic Pass", is significantly higher compared to this time last year, and 1 in 8 beaches have suffered a serious short-term pollution incident at some point during the first half of the summer.
In its ‘mid-season beach health check ‘ – an analysis of bathing water quality during the first ten weeks of the summer season, MCS concluded from weekly tests that standards remained generally good on UK beaches, despite May, June and July being the wettest on record. But storm related pollution has reduced 67 beaches to the basic legal water quality standard – double the number at this point last summer – and 71 beaches have suffered serious one-off pollution incidents.
MCS has called on the Government to provide public information on all bathing beaches, advising swimmers that coastal waters can be temporarily affected by increased pollution, with a consequent risk to bathers’ health, after heavy rain.
The Society has urged swimmers to be aware of possible pollution after severe rain or flooding, and where pollution occurs to wait at least 24 hours after the rain stops before entering the sea.
This mid-season beach report is derived from water quality samples from each of 553 official UK bathing beaches.
The results are published on the MCS Good Beach Guide website www.goodbeachguide.co.uk.
(SP/JM)
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17 October 2013
NI Beaches Achieve 100% Quality
Every one of Northern Ireland's 23 beaches officially identified as bathing waters have passed the EC Bathing Waters Directive mandatory standard for water quality. The announcement makes 2013 the best year ever for bathing water quality in Northern Ireland, since bathing waters were first designated under the EC Bathing Water Directive in 1994.
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Every one of Northern Ireland's 23 beaches officially identified as bathing waters have passed the EC Bathing Waters Directive mandatory standard for water quality. The announcement makes 2013 the best year ever for bathing water quality in Northern Ireland, since bathing waters were first designated under the EC Bathing Water Directive in 1994.
03 May 2012
NI's Beaches Passing Bathing Water Standards Welcome
Environment Minister, Alex Attwood today welcomed the publication of the Marine Conservation Society Report, Good Beach Guide for 2012 passing EC standards for Northern Ireland's beaches. The recommendations in the guide are based on water quality measurement and perceived pollution risk at 24 of Northern Ireland's most popular bathing beaches.
NI's Beaches Passing Bathing Water Standards Welcome
Environment Minister, Alex Attwood today welcomed the publication of the Marine Conservation Society Report, Good Beach Guide for 2012 passing EC standards for Northern Ireland's beaches. The recommendations in the guide are based on water quality measurement and perceived pollution risk at 24 of Northern Ireland's most popular bathing beaches.
20 September 2011
Cleanest NI Waters Praised
All 24 of Northern Ireland's identified beaches passed the EC Bathing Waters Directive mandatory standards for water quality in 2011. Environment Minister Alex Attwood today announced the news in advance of the Second Good Beach Summit and said: "These are the best results in the last 15 years equalling those achieved in 1996.
Cleanest NI Waters Praised
All 24 of Northern Ireland's identified beaches passed the EC Bathing Waters Directive mandatory standards for water quality in 2011. Environment Minister Alex Attwood today announced the news in advance of the Second Good Beach Summit and said: "These are the best results in the last 15 years equalling those achieved in 1996.
05 November 2003
Local beaches given clean bill of health
All 16 of Northern Ireland's beaches have passed the 2003 EU bathing water tests, placing them ahead of the rest of the UK.
Local beaches given clean bill of health
All 16 of Northern Ireland's beaches have passed the 2003 EU bathing water tests, placing them ahead of the rest of the UK.
27 March 2013
NI Beaches Have 'Excellent' Water Quality
Overall, Northern Ireland's beaches have 'excellent' water quality, according to a newly-published study by the Marine Conservation Society (MSC). This is despite one beach, at Newcastle in County Down, failing to meet the minimum EU standard for bathing water quality.
NI Beaches Have 'Excellent' Water Quality
Overall, Northern Ireland's beaches have 'excellent' water quality, according to a newly-published study by the Marine Conservation Society (MSC). This is despite one beach, at Newcastle in County Down, failing to meet the minimum EU standard for bathing water quality.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
