Addressing Northern Ireland’s Water Quality Crisis – A Case For Ambition And Urgency
Northern Ireland’s water resources are an extremely important natural asset which contributes to economic, social and environmental wellbeing. However, in recent years the condition of Northern Ireland’s rivers, lakes and other surface waters has generated mounting public concern, as water quality remains under significant pressure from multiple sources.
Northern Ireland’s resources are managed and protected by using a catchment-based approach which includes rivers, lakes and groundwater as well as coastal water bodies. The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 require the production and implementation of a River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) in six-yearly cycles.
The Northern Ireland Executive set a working target to bring 70% of water bodies to a ‘good status.’ The deadline to meet this target by 2021 was missed. In 2022, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) proposed a new deadline of 2027 to achieve the same working target.
However, many assess that this target is still unlikely to be missed. The Office for Environmental Protection has reported that ‘without additional action, applied with pace and ambition, we cannot currently see a basis to be confident that things will improve meaningfully by that date.’ [1]
In the summer of 2023, Lough Neagh made international headlines following the eruption of widespread blue green algae pollution throughout the Lough. Intensified recurrent algal blooms in recent years have resulted in devastating restrictions in both commercial and recreational use of Lough Neagh. The livelihoods of fishermen have been devasted, reports of animal deaths and people becoming ill following exposure to the blue green algae are widespread and there are ongoing concerns in relation to the safety of drinking water in Northern Ireland generally as 40% originated from the Lough.
Thousands have been affected by the ongoing issues with Lough Neagh, and many are seeking answers and accountability from the relevant authorities who have responsibility for water quality in Northern Ireland. The cause of blue-green algae has been debated but many believe that it is caused by pollution and is exacerbated by the lack of effective government oversight.
Has adequate action been taken?
In July 2024 DEARA published the Lough Neagh Report which set out a 37 point ‘Action Plan’ to address the recognised issues of blue green algae and water quality in Lough Neagh. However, there remains a collective emphasis amongst key stakeholders and campaigners that any action taken must be sufficient and capable not only of adequately protecting the Lough from further ecological degradation, but also reversing the damage that has already been done.
In recent weeks, DAERA in collaboration with Northern Ireland Environment Agency, have launched public consultations on the Impacts on the Water Environment and the Review of the Nutrient Action Programme 2026-2029.
While ongoing pollution affecting water quality in Northern Ireland can be attributed to multiple sources, agricultural sector practices and the regulation of Northern Ireland Water’s operations continue to challenge the achievement of good ecological status of Northern Ireland’s water resources.
The Nutrients Action Programme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 and the Nutrients Action Programme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 implemented an action programme to reduce pollution from agricultural sources entering the aquatic environment.
It has been proposed by DAERA that the existing NAP measures should be carried forward into new NAP regulations with the addition of new actions such as including how the department should consider if a habitats assessment pursuant to the Habitats Regulations should be carried out in particular circumstances.
While efforts are seemingly underway, progress made has been slow and inconsistent with little evidence of positive change in the status of water bodies in recent years. The relatively rudimentary steps proposed in the Lough Neagh action plan, for example, are a far cry from the level of ambition and urgency that the OEP have recommended for addressing the dire condition of water quality in Northern Ireland.
[1] The Office for Environmental Protection, ‘A review of implementation of the Water Framework Directive Regulations and River Basin Management Planning in Northern Ireland’ (OEP September 2024).