Stricter Standards Mean None of NI’s Rivers or Lakes Makes the Grade for Water Quality in 2021

12th December 2021

MacDara Conroy

File image of the River Bann at Coleraine Credit: Hellish/Wikimedia

None of Northern Ireland’s rivers, lakes or coastal waters has achieved a “good overall” status for water quality in a new report, as the Belfast Telegraph reports.

The Water Framework Directive Statistics Report from NI’s Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) highlights a marked decline in water quality across the region, with no water bodies achieving good or above in 2021

This is compared to just three years ago, when 141 of Northern Ireland’s river water bodies classified as good or high. The 2018 rate for lakes was five out of 21, and for coastal waters 10 out of 25.

Stricter standards have prompted the lower ratings, the report explains, with DAERA now assessing water bodies for the presence of ubiquitous, persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (uPBT) substances.

The Belfast Telegraph has more on the story HERE.

Published in Northern Ireland Waters, Environment

Published in Northern Ireland Waters

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MacDara Conroy

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MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business

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