Cushendall identified as bathing water site

Seven new official bathing water sites have been identified following a public review by DAERA, meaning they must meet stringent water quality standards.

They are:

1. Brompton Bay, Bangor
2. Cushendall  
3. Donaghadee Harbour
4. Drain’s Bay, near Larne
5. Portmuck
6. Rea's Wood, Antrim, Lough Neagh
7. Warrenpoint, Sandy Bottom

The Bathing Water Review 2022/23 also received calls (98% of respondents) for the bathing season, which currently runs from 01 June until 15 September, to be extended.

DAERA will now explore with stakeholders the implications of such an extension and will be cooperating with councils acting as Bathing Water Operators in having the new sites identified in regulation.

The review incorporated a public consultation which saw 352 nominations for 101 proposed new bathing water sites, including inland water sites.

For the Department to proceed with the identification of a site, it must be assured that:

• bathing is not prohibited or inadvisable for safety reasons;
• bathing is traditionally practised by large numbers of bathers (the Department has criteria around this), and
• there is an appropriate body willing to take on the formal responsibility of Bathing Water Operator.