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’ or ‘temporary advice issued against bathing’. 

May to September 2019 water quality results

Most recent results published in the 2019 season for bathing waters:

2018 bathing water compliance

Bathing water Compliance level
Magilligan (Benone) Excellent
Magilligan (Downhill) Excellent
Castlerock Good
Portstewart Excellent
Portrush (Mill) West Excellent
Portrush (Whiterocks) Excellent
Portballintrae Excellent
Ballycastle Excellent
Helen's Bay Excellent
Groomsport Excellent
Millisle Excellent
Kilclief Excellent
Ballyhornan Excellent
Tyrella Excellent
Murlough County Down Excellent
Cranfield (Cranfield Bay) Excellent
Portrush (Curran) East Good
Carnlough Good
Ballygally Good
Brown's Bay Good
Crawfordsburn Good
Cloughey Good
Waterfoot Sufficient
Ballyholme Sufficient
Ballywalter Sufficient
Newcastle 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.

In 2019, eight Blue Flag beaches and four Blue Flag Marinas in Northern Ireland, 12 Seaside Award beaches and one Green Coast beach were recognised.

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