Be aware of bathing water advice over bank holiday weekend, warns DAERA Minister

People heading to Northern Ireland’s beaches and lakes this bank holiday are being urged to follow official bathing water advice, as warnings remain in place at a number of popular sites.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) confirmed that weekly water quality checks are being carried out across 33 monitored bathing sites during the season.

At present, bathing notices remain in force at Benone Beach in Co Londonderry and Rea’s Wood at Lough Neagh in Co Antrim due to the presence of blue-green algae.

DAERA officers will continue to monitor conditions throughout the bank holiday weekend and provide updates to bathing water operators where necessary.

Encouraging the public to take extra care, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said:

“We have seen an increase in prevalence of blue-green algae in our waterways over recent days. This is sadly not unexpected and emphasises the critical need to back the interventions required to address the crisis facing Lough Neagh and other water ways.

“As people prepare for their bank holiday weekend, it is important to be aware of the bathing advice in place, and I would urge everyone to take note of local council updates and to check the DAERA bathing water quality dashboard.

“If in doubt, stay out of the water, ensure that dogs are kept on leads and follow any advisory signs at water bodies. These notices are there to help keep you, your family, and your pets safe.”

How to check the latest bathing water advice

Members of the public can access the DAERA Bathing Water Quality Dashboard here, which provides the most up-to-date results for monitored sites.

Reports of confirmed blue-green algae blooms are also published via DAERA’s Blue-Green Algae Web Viewer.

Anyone who suspects a new bloom is encouraged to report it using the Bloomin’ Algae app or by emailing emergency-pollution@daera-ni.gov.uk with a photo and location details.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) will continue to record events and assess any significant increases in algae levels.

Blue-green algae risks

Blue-green algae, which thrives in warm and still water conditions, can pose health risks to people, pets, and wildlife. It can cause skin irritation, nausea, and stomach upsets in humans, while proving potentially fatal to animals if ingested.

With the bank holiday set to draw large numbers to Northern Ireland’s waterways, DAERA is reminding the public that bathing notices are in place to protect health and safety.