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  3. Environmental quality in your area

Bathing water quality

Northern Ireland’s bathing season begins on 1 June and ends on 15 September each year. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is responsible for monitoring and making sure that coastal waters are of high enough quality to bathe in.

Water quality monitoring

Bathing water at 26 sites is monitored weekly from May to September and classified into one of four categories:

  • excellent
  • good
  • satisfactory
  • temporary advice issued against bathing 

2021 bathing water quality posters

Most recent results published in the 2021 season for bathing waters:

  • Antrim Coast bathing water quality
  • North Coast bathing water quality
  • North Down bathing water quality
  • South Down bathing water quality

2021 bathing water compliance

Bathing water

Compliance level

Magilligan (Benone)

Excellent

Magilligan (Downhill)

Excellent

Castlerock

Excellent

Portstewart

Excellent

Portrush (Mill) West

Excellent
Portrush (Curran) East Excellent

Portrush (Whiterocks)

Excellent

Portballintrae

Excellent
Ballycastle Excellent

Helen’s Bay

Excellent

Crawfordsburn

Excellent

Groomsport

Excellent

Millisle

Excellent 
Ballywalter Excellent

Cloughey

Excellent

Tyrella

Excellent

Murlough Co Down

Excellent

Cranfield (Cranfield Bay)

Excellent

Kilclief

Excellent

Carnlough

Good

Ballygally

Good

Browns Bay

Good

Newcastle

Good

Ballyhornan

Good

Ballyholme 

Sufficient

Waterfoot

Sufficient

Blue Flag beaches

Beaches with an excellent water quality compliance result may be eligible for the Blue Flag award. The award also looks at beach management and facilities such as:

  • litter collection
  • toilets
  • car parking
  • disability access
  • life-saving equipment

The award applies during the bathing season. In Northern Ireland the scheme is run by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, along with the Green Coast and Seaside Award schemes.

2021 awards

In Northern Ireland, eight Blue Flag beaches, six Blue Flag Marinas, 11 Seaside Award beaches and one Green Coast beach were recognised.

  • Blue flag for beaches
  • Seaside awards
  • Green coast awards

More useful links

  • Northern Ireland Beach Bathing Water Quality map
  • 2022 Bathing Water Profiles
  • Enjoying coasts and beaches
  • Air and water quality
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Environmental quality in your area

  • Accessing environmental information
  • Air and water quality
  • Air pollution and health
  • Bathing water quality
  • Climate change
  • Radiation in the environment
  • Radon gas in your home
  • Report polluted land and water
  • Report waste crime

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