Environment Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed news that Northern Ireland has achieved eight coveted Blue Flag Awards.
The Minister said, “It is great news that eight of our most popular beaches will be flying the Blue Flag this year. I am delighted with this achievement and would encourage all coastal councils to apply for this award which promotes environmental awareness, tourism and, in turn, economic growth in coastal resorts.
“The success of this Award scheme highlights the improvements made in water quality at many of our beaches. We cannot, however, become complacent and must strive for continued investment in our sewage infrastructure, in order to further improve water quality around our coast”.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The award is based on the highest standards of water quality along with a number of other land-based criteria, such as adequate toilet and litter facilities and information boards. 22 of the 27 bathing water sites monitored, met the strict water quality requirements of this award.
- Tidy Northern Ireland operates the Blue Flag Award Scheme in Northern Ireland on behalf of the charity Environmental Campaigns (ENCAMS).
- This is good news for Northern Ireland, with 8 out of the 27 monitored bathing waters achieving the coveted Blue Flag award, the same as last year.
- Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) monitors 27 bathing waters in Northern Ireland, 16 of which are currently identified under the EC Bathing Water Directive, and an additional 11 sites.
- Monitoring is undertaken throughout the bathing season from 1 June to mid-September. Sites are selected where bathing is traditionally practised by large numbers of bathers and each site is sampled on 20 occasions during the season.
- There are two standards in the Bathing Water Directive; the Mandatory (I) standard and the more stringent Guideline (G) standard. To comply with the Directive, 95% of samples must contain levels of coliform bacteria less than the (I) standard. The tighter (G) value is a target which EHS seeks to achieve.
- The Blue Flag awards are based 29 criteria , one of which is the Bathing Water Directive guideline standards for coliforms and faecal streptococci. All other 28 criteria are land based.
- In 2006, all of the 27 monitored bathing waters in Northern Ireland met the Mandatory (I) standard and 22 met the Guideline (G) standards.
- For further information contact DOE Press Office tel. 028 9054 0003.
