By Julie Waters
THE bathing waters at one of Ards and North’s most popular sea swimming spots in Donaghadee has been given the lowest ranking of ‘sufficient’.
Out of the nine bathing water sites across the borough that were tested during the swimming period from June 1st until September 15, the picturesque coastal village’s water quality was at the bottom of the results table.
The areas that received the highest ranking, boasting ‘excellent’ water quality, included Cloughey and Millisle as well as Crawfordsburn, Helen’s Bay and Millisle.
A further three bathing water sites that were ranked as ‘good quality’ included Ballywalter, Ballyholme and Brompton in Bangor West.
Bathing water quality is monitored by the Department for Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and one of its key responsibilities is to ensure coastal waters are of high enough quality for the general public to bathe in.
Martin Strain, founder of Donaghadee’s popular sea swimming group the Chunky Dunkers, rarely misses his dip in the town’s picturesque harbour area whatever the weather. He spoke highly of the bay’s water quality saying: “There was a period there, for about two to three weeks, that the water was crystal clear.”
However Mr Strain acknowledged that run off from agricultural lands can impact the water quality.
“The water quality just depends on the weather and there is a run off from the fields. If there is really bad rain it makes it very murky but there is never anything more sinister.”
DAERA has split the potential sources of pollution at Donaghadee into three categories – rural source pollution such as agriculture, wastewater (sewage) treatment works discharges and wastewater systems in urban areas.
Donaghadee’s bathing water profile states that ‘prolonged periods of rainfall’ can cause surface runoff of organic wastes, such as animal slurries, which ‘contribute to the bacteria content in the water environment’.
Each of Northern Ireland’s 33 designated bathing water sites is assessed on 20 different occasions during the bathing season from June through to mid-September.
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir welcomed the upgrade in class at three sites, including Ballyholme, which had underperformed for many years. “I am committed to continuing to work with agencies and local councils in improving both water quality and the information and advice that we offer to the public through the Better Beaches Forum led by my officials,” said Mr Muir.
“I am also about to launch a new Bathing Water Review and I want to seek the views of all stakeholders in how we further improve the advice my Department can give around water quality issues.”
