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04/11/2010
Seaside Gets Cleaner Bill Of Health
The seaside bathing areas in NI are getting better, according to a water quality survey with just two out of 24 sites tested around the coast failing to meet the required European standards.
Stormont Environment Minister Edwin Poots has welcomed the results from the annual monitoring programme of local bathing water quality, (Benone Beach is pictured here).
The DUP Minister said that in Northern Ireland, 24 sites are formally identified under the 1976 EC Bathing Waters Directive and that the monitoring programme has been in place since it first began in 1988.
The water is sampled on 20 occasions in the summer months by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) for bacterial contamination and other indicators of pollution.
The Minister said: "I am encouraged that despite another wet July, only two bathing waters failed to achieve the mandatory requirements for the EC's Bathing Water Directive.
"I am also encouraged that 16 of our 24 bathing waters met the guideline standards, which are a requirement for the coveted Blue Flag Award, an improvement from 11 last year."
The Minister highlighted that continued wet summers would bring new challenges in the management of local bathing waters.
He said: "Unusually heavy rainfall events continue to cause flooding and this is making improvements in bathing water quality very difficult.
"Northern Ireland Water is continuing to invest millions in sewerage system upgrades," he continued.
"Farmers are now delivering on improved slurry storage and handling systems. Environmentally friendly working systems are now the norm in industry.
"My Department will continue to press for the high standards of operation and maintenance so that we can all benefit from this huge, ongoing investment.
"We have a wonderful coastline and great bathing waters which deserve high levels of protection," he concluded, noting that only Ballyholme and Newcastle failed to meet the Directive's requirements.
Neither failure has been attributed to a specific pollution incident. However, both areas are in the process of having major sewerage infrastructure upgrades as part of a planned response to acknowledged deficiencies.
(BMcC/GK)
Stormont Environment Minister Edwin Poots has welcomed the results from the annual monitoring programme of local bathing water quality, (Benone Beach is pictured here).
The DUP Minister said that in Northern Ireland, 24 sites are formally identified under the 1976 EC Bathing Waters Directive and that the monitoring programme has been in place since it first began in 1988.
The water is sampled on 20 occasions in the summer months by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) for bacterial contamination and other indicators of pollution.
The Minister said: "I am encouraged that despite another wet July, only two bathing waters failed to achieve the mandatory requirements for the EC's Bathing Water Directive.
"I am also encouraged that 16 of our 24 bathing waters met the guideline standards, which are a requirement for the coveted Blue Flag Award, an improvement from 11 last year."
The Minister highlighted that continued wet summers would bring new challenges in the management of local bathing waters.
He said: "Unusually heavy rainfall events continue to cause flooding and this is making improvements in bathing water quality very difficult.
"Northern Ireland Water is continuing to invest millions in sewerage system upgrades," he continued.
"Farmers are now delivering on improved slurry storage and handling systems. Environmentally friendly working systems are now the norm in industry.
"My Department will continue to press for the high standards of operation and maintenance so that we can all benefit from this huge, ongoing investment.
"We have a wonderful coastline and great bathing waters which deserve high levels of protection," he concluded, noting that only Ballyholme and Newcastle failed to meet the Directive's requirements.
Neither failure has been attributed to a specific pollution incident. However, both areas are in the process of having major sewerage infrastructure upgrades as part of a planned response to acknowledged deficiencies.
(BMcC/GK)
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NI Bathing Waters Quality Improves
The results from the annual monitoring programme of local bathing water quality have revealed good news about NI's coast. Stormont Environment Minister Edwin Poots welcomed the report, which he said analyses the current state of 24 sites formally identified under the 1976 EC Bathing Waters Directive and revised with the programme since 1988.
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The results from the annual monitoring programme of local bathing water quality have revealed good news about NI's coast. Stormont Environment Minister Edwin Poots welcomed the report, which he said analyses the current state of 24 sites formally identified under the 1976 EC Bathing Waters Directive and revised with the programme since 1988.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:There will be a mixture of bright intervals and a few showers. Best of the sunny spells will be near the North Coast. Feeling on the cool side. Maximum temperature 10 °C.Tonight:Showers will gradually die out during the evening. A cold night with long clear spells leading to a touch of frost in places. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
