DAERA at the Balmoral Show 2023
You’re the Solution to Water Pollution
Thanks for visiting the stall at Balmoral Show and taking the time to visit our page. Below are some useful links and information for finding out more about water quality and your local catchment.
Click here to learn more about how You're the solution to Water Pollution
Catchment Maps
To find out more on water quality on your area, you can search the Catchment map viewer or download digital datasets.
Click here to see the Water Management Unit Digital Dataset Downloads
Solutions to Water Pollution – Get involved
Reporting water pollution
If you have any concerns about water pollution in your local area or want to report a water pollution incident, contact the NIEA incident phone hotline on:
0800 80 70 60
This number is available year-round, 24 hours a day.
NIEA also has a dedicated emergency pollution email address for reporting pollution issues in Northern Ireland that are not urgent and do not need immediate attention:
emergency-pollution@daera-ni.gov.uk
Water Quality Improvement Grant
As part of the Environmental Challenge Fund Competition the NIEA have a Water Quality Improvement Strand. The fund is made available to support local communities and voluntary organisations to invest in projects that will deliver improvements in the local water environment, help connect people with the environment, and encourage behavioural change.
This has been running for 4 years and applications for 2023/24 are closed, you can find out more about his fund and future competitions can be found on this page.
Click here to find out more on the Environment Fund – Water Quality Improvement Strand
Preventing Pollution – Useful links
Pollution prevention | |
Preventing pollution from drains & the Yellow Fish campaign | Click here to learn more about the proper use of drains and the Yellow Fish campaign |
Connecting your home to the right drains | Click here for more information on connecting your home to the right drains |
Water Management Unit – What we do
The stand is manned by the Water Management Unit and the link below gives more information on the roles and responsibilities of this Unit.
Click here to learn more about the Water Management Unit
Water Management Unit - Why we do
Water Framework Directive
River Basin Management Planning introduced a holistic approach to the management of water quality, and requires the protection and improvement of all aspects of the water environment including rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters and groundwater.
The regulations place a responsibility on Northern Ireland to try and ensure that all inland and coastal waters reach at least “good status” (or good ecological potential for artificial or heavily modified water bodies). The regulations use a five status classifications for waterbodies: High, Good, Moderate, Poor and Bad and allows for extended deadlines or less stringent objectives to be set for water bodies, should certain conditions be met.
The status of your local waterbody can be found here:
Click here to read the Northern Ireland Water Framework Directive Statistics Report 2021
River Basin Management Plans
River Basin Management is a key element in implementing the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017, taking an integrated approach to the protection, improvement and sustainable use of the water environment. The final plan has had Ministerial approval and will be published subject to Executive approval.
Click here to learn more about the River Basin Management Plans
Other useful information
Groundwater
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) through the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), have produced a leaflet publication to raise awareness about groundwater, an untapped resource. The leaflet aims to provide an overview to help readers understand the role groundwater plays in Northern Ireland, why it’s important to protect it and advice on how to find out more.
Click here for the Groundwater in NI Leaflet
Private Supplies
Private water supplies are any supplies of water not provided by the public water supplier. In Northern Ireland less than one per cent of water comes from private water supplies. The Drinking Water Inspectorate monitors private water supplies to ensure they meet standards set within the regulations. More information on private supplies including compliance, legislation and guidance can be found on this page:
Click here for more information on Private water supplies
If you are interested in Drinking Water Quality and the role of the Drinking Water Inspectorate the below page has more information
Click here to see the Duties of the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI)
For queries or further information contact Water Management Unit: