2024 saw widespread alarm over the health of Northern Ireland's waterways, with Lough Neagh and Belfast Lough grabbing headlines. New Minister Andrew Muir visited Lough Neagh early in his tenure, warning of a repeat of the previous summer's algal blooms. Research revealed the blooms were heavily contaminated with bacteria from wildfowl, livestock, and human wastewater, posing serious health risks. Concerns also extended to Belfast Lough, where NI Water acknowledged the significant contribution of sewage overflows to bacterial contamination and the potential for harmful algal blooms.
From Lough Neagh to Belfast Lough , concerns about the health and wellbeing of our waterways hit the headlines throughout the year.
Dr Neil Reid, who researched algal scum, said the "sludgy mats are full of e-coli, salmonella, clostridium" "These sludgy mats are full of e-coli, salmonella, clostridium - bacteria that are really going to make people ill if they consume them, they touch their face, they get it into their mouths," he said.The OEP's chief executive, Natalie Prosse,r said it was a worrying picture.
"Really, 90% of the excess bacteria we have in Belfast Lough are coming from discharges controlled by Northern Ireland Water," he said.
Water Quality Algae Blooms Lough Neagh Belfast Lough Sewage Contamination
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