A review of implementation of the Bathing Water Regulations in Northern Ireland

Table of Contents

• Foreword 6
• Executive summary and recommendations 9
• Overview 9
• Background 9
• Previous assessments 10
• The Bathing Water NI Regulations 10
• Current status of bathing waters in Northern Ireland 11
• Underlying principles of the regulations 11
• Technical implementation 12
• Coherence with related law and policy 13
• In conclusion 15
• Our recommendations 16
• 1. Introduction 19
• 1.1 About this report 19
• 1.2 What is a bathing water? 19
• 1.3 Why we are looking at the Bathing Water NI Regulations 19
• 1.4 Focus of this report 20
• 1.5 Our approach 21
• 1.6 Structure of this report 22
• 2. The Bathing Water NI Regulations 24
• 2.1 Brief history of the Bathing Water NI Regulations 24
• 2.2 Summary of the Bathing Water NI Regulations 24
• 2.3 Better Beaches Forum and Blue Flag Awards 28
• 3. The state of bathing waters 30
• 3.1 Dominance of coastal bathing sites in Northern Ireland 30
• 3.2 Changing trends – increasing requests for inland sites 31
• 3.3 Status of bathing waters in Northern Ireland 31
• 3.4 Northern Ireland’s bathing water quality compared to other UK administrations 32
• 3.5 Northern Ireland’s bathing water quality compared to EU Member States 33
• 4. Underlying principles of the Bathing Water NI Regulations 36
• 4.1 Who the regulations are intended to protect – the meaning of ‘bathers’ 36
• 4.1.1 Introduction 36
• 4.1.2 The current position 36
• 4.1.3 Discussion 37
• 4.1.4 Our view 39
• 4.2 When the regulations provide protection – the bathing season 41
• 4.2.1 Introduction 41
• 4.2.2 The current position 41
• 4.2.3 Discussion 41
• 4.2.4 Our view 42
• 4.3 Identifying bathing waters 43
• 4.3.1 Introduction 43
• 4.3.2 The current position: 44
• 4.3.3 Discussion 44
• 4.3.4 Our view 45
• 5. Classification, monitoring and reporting of bathing water quality 48
• 5.1 Classification of bathing waters 48
• 5.1.1 Current position 48
• 5.1.2 Discussion 50
• 5.1.3 Our View 51
• 5.2 Monitoring of bathing waters 52
• 5.2.1 Current position 52
• 5.2.2 Discussion 56
• 5.2.3 Our View 57
• 5.3 Reporting and communication issues 58
• 5.3.1 The current position 58
• 5.3.2 Discussion 58
• 5.3.3 Our view 60
• 6. Interaction of the Bathing Water NI Regulations with other law and policy 63
• 6.1 The Water Framework Directive Regulations 63
• 6.1.1 The current position 63
• 6.1.2 Discussion 64
• 6.1.3 Our view 64
• 6.2 Water industry regulation and investment mechanisms 66
• 6.2.1 The current position 66
• 6.2.2 Discussion 67
• 6.2.3 Our view 67
• 6.3 The Marine Strategy Regulations 68
• 6.3.1 The current position 68
• 6.3.2 Discussion 68
• 6.3.3 Our View 69
• 6.4 How the Bathing Water NI Regulations interact with other rights and restrictions 70
• 6.4.1 The current position 70
• 6.4.2 Discussion 70
• 6.4.3 Our view 71
• Glossary 73
• Annex 1. Stakeholder engagement and expert review 75
• Project stakeholder group 75
• Workshop 76
• Expert review 78