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Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Comhshaoil agus Gnóthaí Tuaithe Depairtment o' Fairmin, Environment an' Kintra Matthers

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  • Water

    Protecting the aquatic environment by regulating water quality and hydrological processes whilst considering the needs of industry, agriculture and the protection of public health.

    contents

    Water and EU Exit

    • EU Exit Q&As - Agricultural Regulation
    • EU Exit Q&As - Water regulation
    • EU Exit Q&As - Drinking Water

    Regulation of agricultural activities

    • Sewage sludge
    • Groundwater authorisations
    • Nutrients Action Programme

    Bathing Water Quality

    Bathing Water Quality Reports

    • About Bathing Water Quality
    • Bathing Water Data 2025
    • Bathing Water Data 2024

    Drinking water

    The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) is a unit within the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) responsible for regulating drinking water quality in Northern Ireland for both public and private supplies.

    • EU Exit Q&As - Drinking Water
    • Private Water Supplies
    • Public water supplies

    Discharges

    • Domestic Consent Public Register
    • Urban waste water
    • Review of Sensitive Areas

    River Basin Management

    The Water (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 ensures that the Water Framework Directive (as transposed) and the various supporting pieces of water legislation continue to operate here after 1 January 2021. These supporting regulations are listed at Schedule 2 of The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017.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

    • Delivery and public participation
    • North Eastern River Basin District
    • North Western River Basin District

    Water legislation and guidance

    • Water Framework Directive
    • Detergents Regulation Post EU Exit
    • Groundwater

    Abstraction

    • Loughs Agency
    • Abstraction and impoundment licensing requirements
    • Hydrology

    Water Management Unit

    Information about the Northern Ireland Environment Agency's (NIEA) Water Management Unit (WMU) including guidance produced by the WMU and digital datasets which are available for downloading.

    • Groundwater Digital Datasets
    • River Water Quality Monitoring
    • NIEA has introduced online submission of manure export forms

    Blue-Green Algae

    Northern Ireland has been experiencing an increase in blue-green algae blooms. To find out more about blue-green algae, click on the links below.

    • Blue-Green Algae - News Update
    • What is Blue-Green Algae?
    • What to do if you think you see Blue-Green Algae

    The NIEA and water pollution

    Information about water pollution management in Northern Ireland including the role of the operations team in relation to pollution prevention, pollution response and enforcement actions. Find out how to report incidents of pollution.

    Information Events on the Proposed Nutrients Action Programme for 2026-2029

    The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a Public Consultation following the fourth review of the Nutrients Action Programme. The consultation is seeking views on proposals for the Nutrients Action Programme for 2026-2029.

    Related to Water

    Most recent publications

    • Presentations Delivered at the Greenmount Information Event on 29 May 2025

      Published 27 June 2025
    • Third River Basin Management Plan for Northern Ireland

      Published 13 June 2025
    See all publications in this topic

    Most recent consultations

    • Public Consultation on the Timetable and Work Programme for Developing the Fourth Cycle River Basin Management Plan

      Published 3 July 2025 Closes 03 January 2026
    • Consultation on the draft Remediation Strategy for the Mobuoy Site

      Published 13 June 2025 Closes 02 October 2025
    See all consultations in this topic

    Most recent news items

    • DAERA launches new Dashboard to track Bathing Water Quality across NI

      Published 10 July 2025
    • Public consultation on River Basin planning Fourth Cycle timeline

      Published 4 July 2025
    See all news in this topic

    Access to information

    How to request information from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs including Freedom of Information (FOI), Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) and the use of our Publication Scheme.

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