Fewer beaches make clean sweep

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BASEL
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Fewer beaches make clean sweep

Post by BASEL » Mon May 25, 2009 2:44 pm

The number of recommended bathing beaches in NI has fallen from 10 to seven in this year's Good Beach Guide.

The Marine Conservation Society (MSC) recommendation was given to only 30% of 23 tested beaches.

The society said NI's beaches suffered from heavy storm run-off carrying fertilisers and animal waste from farms into the river system.

It also said years of under investment in the sewage infrastructure had had a detrimental affect.

Twelve beaches received a "basic pass" from the organisation, while Ballyholme Beach in Bangor, County Down, failed to meet the minimum legal water quality standard.

"Heavy summer rains caused a significant dip in water quality but the province is now undergoing a £420m sewerage investment programme which MCS hopes will start bringing improvements in the near future," the society said.

RECOMMENDED BEACHES
Magilligan Strand, Co Londonderry
P'stewart Strand, Co Londonderry
Whiterocks, Portrush, Co Antrim
Waterfoot, Co Antrim
Groomsport, Co Down
Tyrella Beach, Co Down
Nicholson's Strand, Co Down

Across the UK as a whole standards dropped with 16.5% fewer beaches recommended for their excellent water quality and an almost 50% increase to 78 in the number failing.

MCS Coastal Pollution Officer Thomas Bell said "Today's results reflect last summer's heavy rain which swept water-borne pollutants like raw sewage, petro-chemicals and farm waste into rivers and the sea.

"MCS is now recommending 25% fewer beaches than three years ago and we're becoming concerned that the existing infrastructure for handling storm pollution may not be up to the job."

Northern Ireland Water, which is responsible for water quality in the province, accepted it had work to do to improve matters.

Angela Halpenny, of NI Water said: "While we are taking steps to improve our wastewater systems and progress is starting to be seen, we do acknowledge that there is still work to be done."

She said NI Water welcomed the MSC's comments that Northern Ireland's results continued to suffer from agricultural land run-off and underinvestment in the sewerage system.

"Weather plays a major role in the quality of bathing water. During periods of heavy rainfall, the sewage system can overflow, which it is designed to do, to alleviate the sewer flooding.

"Last summer's high rainfall increased the frequency of overflows and run-off from agricultural land and urban areas," she said.

She said a £3.5m project to improve the sewerage network in the Ballyholme area had begun late last year and would bring significant benefits which would "contribute to improvements in bathing water quality in the area."
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Ronski
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Post by Ronski » Mon May 25, 2009 3:04 pm

A map would be nice :smiley_bigthumbup:
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