Northern Ireland bathing water quality reaches record high, but Lough Neagh concerns remain
Northern Ireland bathing water quality has reached its highest recorded standard, with 25 of the region’s 33 designated bathing waters achieving an Excellent classification for 2026.
© The Belfast Desk.
Figures published by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) show that a further four sites were rated Good, three Sufficient and one Poor.
However, Rea’s Wood at Lough Neagh has failed to meet the minimum standard for the second consecutive year, highlighting ongoing concerns about pollution and blue-green algae.
Northern Ireland bathing water quality reaches record level
Environment Minister Andrew Muir welcomed the results, describing the record number of Excellent classifications as encouraging at a time of significant public concern about water quality.
Drain’s Bay in County Antrim was the only location to improve its classification, moving from Good in 2025 to Excellent in 2026.
The classifications at the other 32 designated sites remained unchanged.
Of Northern Ireland’s 33 designated bathing waters, 32 are coastal locations and one is inland.
The results are based on bacteriological monitoring over a four-year period, measuring indicators of faecal contamination.
Lough Neagh bathing site remains rated Poor
Despite the overall improvement, Rea’s Wood in Antrim remains the only designated bathing water classified as Poor.
The site was closed throughout the 2026 bathing season following its Poor classification in 2025, while blue-green algae has also been present since last year.
Minister Muir described the continued situation as extremely concerning and said it demonstrated the scale of the environmental challenges facing Lough Neagh.
The Minister said he was pursuing measures to tackle pollution, including stronger penalties for polluters, changes to wastewater regulation and new proposals to reduce agricultural nutrient pollution.
He also called for wider political and sectoral support for difficult decisions needed to improve water quality.
Which Northern Ireland beaches achieved Excellent ratings?
The 25 locations classified as Excellent are:
- Ballycastle, Ballygally, Ballyhornan, Brown’s Bay, Carnlough, Castlerock, Cloughey, Cranfield, Crawfordsburn, Cushendall, Drain’s Bay, Groomsport, Helen’s Bay, Kilclief, Magilligan Benone, Magilligan Downhill, Millisle, Murlough, Portballintrae Salmon Rock, Portmuck, Portrush Curran, Portrush Mill, Portrush Whiterocks, Portstewart, Tyrella
Four sites rated Good and three Sufficient
Four bathing waters achieved a Good classification:
- Ballyholme, Ballywalter, Brompton, Waterfoot
Three sites were classified as Sufficient:
- Donaghadee, Newcastle, Warrenpoint
Rea’s Wood was the only site classified as Poor.
New monitoring technology planned for bathing waters
DAERA and NI Water are developing a new monitoring system designed to give the public more timely information about wastewater overflows affecting bathing locations.
The Event Duration Monitors Viewer is expected to be piloted at Ballyholme and Newcastle, using near real-time data to indicate storm overflow activity.
Subject to successful testing, a public-facing version could become available ahead of the 2027 bathing season.
NI Water currently has 2,433 storm overflows across its wastewater network, with 800 Event Duration Monitors installed.
The Department is also continuing to develop its Bathing Water Quality Dashboard, which provides information about designated bathing sites.
Public advised to avoid bathing after heavy rainfall
DAERA has reminded swimmers and other water users that heavy rainfall can temporarily reduce bathing water quality by increasing pollution entering rivers and coastal waters.
The Department advises avoiding bathing for 48 hours following significant rainfall.
The annual designated bathing season runs from 1 June to 15 September.
Minister Muir said the Department was also considering the findings of a review into how Northern Ireland’s bathing water programme operates, with further decisions expected in November.
The review aims to better reflect how the public uses beaches and other waters for swimming and outdoor recreation.
While the 2026 results represent a record for Excellent classifications, the Department acknowledges that further action is needed to tackle pollution and protect water quality across Northern Ireland.
External link: Northern Ireland Bathing Water Quality Dashboard
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