Local beaches rated “excellent” but don’t take into account algae blooms, says County Derry MLA

East Derry MLA Claire Sugden has cautiously welcomed “excellent” water quality results for at all the beaches in her constituency, but said the monitoring season was too short to take into account the blue-green algae blooms in October.

The Bathing Water Compliance results – which monitor from June 1 to September 15 – found water quality in the top category at every beach from Benone to Portballintrae, and continuing round the coast until Carnlough, which was deemed “good quality”.

“These results show us the quality of our water as it should be – excellent for bathing,” Ms Sugden said.

“It is welcome that bathers were able to take advantage of this during the designated season, but people go in our waters all year round, so efforts to maintain this quality throughout the year must be made.

“The potentially toxic blue-green algae blooms that we saw in October occurred just outside this bathing monitoring season and, had results from this period been included, those affected beaches near the mouth of the Bann would have undoubtedly seen this assessment drastically changed.

“The tourist industry on the north coast relies largely on its beaches and waters, and locals use them every single day.

“Efforts must be ongoing to resolve the occurrence of these algae blooms from forming in our lakes and rivers and then making their way down to the coast.”