AQW 9720/17-22 Written question to the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail which local council areas comply with the standards in the Northern Ireland water quality regulations.

Asked by John Blair MLA on 4 November 2020

  • Answered
  • Written
Tabled
4 November 2020
Answer due by
19 November 2020
Answered
16 November 202012 days after tabling
Department
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Priority question
No

Answer

Water quality in rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal and groundwaters is assessed against standards set out in the Water Framework Directive (Classification, Priority Substances and Shellfish Waters) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015.

In the latest full classification in 2018 only 37% of Northern Ireland’s water bodies were at the relevant good status or better, with each of the local council areas having water bodies below this standard. Therefore none of the local council areas fully comply with the water quality standards in the above Regulations.

Official sources