Northern Ireland Urged to Update Bathing Water Regulations

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has reported that Northern Ireland's regulations for swimming in rivers and lakes are outdated and need urgent updates to ensure public safety. The report highlights that current regulations primarily focus on swimming, neglecting other popular water activities such as surfing and paddleboarding, and calls for a review that reflects the year-round nature of these activities. Additionally, the OEP has recommended increasing water quality sampling and improving transparency in monitoring decisions. Dame Glenys Stacey, OEP chair, emphasized the importance of adapting regulations to protect public health as more individuals engage in outdoor water pursuits. A separate OEP report indicated that the implementation of water quality laws is lagging behind necessary environmental objectives, citing a lack of clear measures. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) has been given 11 recommendations to modernize the Bathing Water NI Regulations.