Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir is urging the public to help monitor water quality in Northern Ireland.
The Great UK Water Blitz, which takes place from April 25-28, 2025, allows participants to take simple water tests at their local water sources and upload their findings to a central database.
The data helps form a snapshot of water quality across the UK, contributing to better understanding and action to protect our water environment.
Water quality
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has secured 500 water test kits to be distributed throughout Northern Ireland.
“Everyone has a role to play in protecting water quality and I would urge anyone with an interest to participate in the Water Blitz and help to monitor the health of our waterways,” Minister Muir said.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is also supporting the initiative.
“The issues we have witnessed in Lough Neagh and beyond have highlighted the importance of ensuring this precious resource is protected for not just for us but for future generations.
“It is only through science, data gathering and information we can really make the changes we all want to see,” Muir said.
The minister recently attended the Lough Neagh Stakeholder Forum where it was announced that 10 measures from the Lough Neagh Action Plan have been delivered, with a further 23 in progress.
“Significant amount of work is needed to turn the tide on water quality but my department is firmly committed to driving forward initiatives that enable better water quality which is essential for all aspects of life here in Northern Ireland.
“With a better understanding of the water quality of local rivers and lakes, we can all make better decisions and take action to improve our local water environment,” he added.
Dr Sasha Woods, director of Science and Policy at Earthwatch Europe, said that canals, rivers, lakes and streams are threatened by pollution from multiple sources.
“Urgent action is needed to safeguard the future of our precious freshwater ecosystems.
“By taking part in the Great UK WaterBlitz, we can use the power of citizen science to build a snapshot of freshwater quality in Northern Ireland, enabling us to pinpoint pollution hotspots and take action for a healthy freshwater future,” she said.
If you are interested in participating in the Water Blitz or would like to request a test kit, you can contact the NIEA.
