Community groups use NIEA funding to invest in water quality improvement projects

Date published: 5 June 2025

Coleraine-based Community Interest Company (CIC) Sea2it has used Water Quality Improvement Strand (WQIS) funding for the past number of years to support projects focused on tackling litter pollution and invasive species as well as training and upskilling their volunteers (who range in age from 12-82!).

Andrew Bratton, Sea2it volunteer sees litter as being a huge problem and estimates there’s probably about five decades worth of litter trapped on the banks of the River Bann. His organisation is committed to directing volunteer led environmental activities such as marine and freshwater litter collections, invasive species action, outfall safari and conservation angling and monitoring programmes.

Speaking about what the WQIS funding has helped Sea2it to achieve, Andrew says:

“The Water Quality Programme has been fantastic for our organisation…I think in this year’s programme we managed to remove 2.7 tonnes of material from the River Bann and the River Roe…It’s also allowed us to provide training for our volunteers on the identification and treatment of invasive species such as giant hogweed” which are another area of environmental concern.

Andrew sees a wide range of benefits of this work, both for the environment and for those using the rivers. Not only is the water quality of the rivers being enhanced, along with its aesthetics, but there are benefits for wildlife in reducing entrapment risks, and in preventing waste materials being broken down into microplastics that are contributing to wider pollution issues around Northern Ireland’s coast.

Everyone has a responsibility for water quality

Aidan Donnelly, President of Armagh Angling Club sees the benefits of initiatives to improve water quality “not just for anglers, but also for people that use the water”.

A key element of their water quality improvement project is around education, including the organisation of environmental education and activity days to engage with the local community.

Aidan explains how taking a partnership approach, working with a range of stakeholders, has been critical to the project:

“We have working with Northern Ireland Water, DAERA, NIEA, ABC Council, Catchment Care and the Water Quality Improvement Strand and we have been doing work on Lowry’s Lake to help reduce invasive weed. It will improve our oxygen levels and the movement of water around the lake. We also treat for algae which improves the water quality on those little feeder streams in order to get brown trout to repopulate the stream and then to self sustain in the lake.

“All this requires work around fencing off areas of feeder streams to prevent animals getting in, educating farmers, educating landowners, educating industry in terms of what we put into our water, what we take for granted and what we flush down toilets and drains”.

For Aidan and his angling club the bottom line is

“Water quality is at the heart of everything we do down here. If we don’t have good water quality we end up with problems raising our fish.”

Making a difference across Northern Ireland

The Water Quality Improvement Strand, which is administered by NIEA’s Integrated Catchment Planning Team provides funding for not-for-profit organisations and councils to deliver water quality improvements, help connect people with the water environment and bring about behaviour change. The funding can cover up to 85% of project costs up to a maximum of £30,000.

Silke Hartmann from the Integrated Catchment Planning Team said

“Last year we were delighted to award £300,000 to 15 groups through the Water Quality Improvement Strand and it’s really positive to see the impact that this funding is having on improving water quality across Northern Ireland. It’s also really encouraging to see the partnership approach being adopted by many of these groups – none of us alone can deliver the improvements we need to see in water quality, but these types of projects show what can be achieved when we all work together.

Our Minister has identified water quality as one of his key priorities and it’s important that we showcase projects such as these which are making a real difference in their local areas, with our support”.

To find out more about the Water Quality Improvement Strand contact NIEA’s Catchment Planning Team catchmentplanning@daera-ni.gov.uk.