Seven of Northern Ireland's water-based National Governing Bodies, united under the Clean Water Sports Alliance NI (CWSANI), are calling on all recreational water users to report incidents of poor water quality this summer, as part of a public appeal coordinated by the NI Sports Forum.

The appeal comes as the summer months bring a significant increase in water-based and water-adjacent activity across Northern Ireland, and as evidence mounts that Northern Ireland’s waterways are in a state of serious and sustained decline. 

The 2024 River Trust's State of our Rivers report found that 100% of river stretches and lakes in Northern Ireland failed to meet 'good' overall status, while Ulster Wildlife has warned that persistent pollution of rivers, sea loughs, and coastal areas is "deeply alarming," with over 17 million tonnes of untreated or partially treated wastewater discharged into Belfast Lough alone annually.

Early results from the CWSANI's own survey paint an equally concerning picture:

• Sewage or foul smell was the most commonly reported issue, cited in nearly half of all responses.
• Blue-green algae was encountered in over a third of incidents, with visible discharge and scum also frequently reported.
• Dead fish or wildlife were encountered in more than one in four reports, highlighting the ecological toll of ongoing pollution.
• In half of all incidents, the activity had to be cancelled or relocated entirely.
• Over 60% of respondents said they experience poor water quality at the same location on a regular basis, monthly or more frequently.
• Half of all respondents said the incident disrupted their usual outdoor routine, with many reporting feelings of anxiety, stress, or avoidance of exercise as a result.

The reports have been received from right across Northern Ireland, with incidents recorded from Belfast Lough and Strangford to the Mournes coastline and Lough Erne.

The Clean Water Sports Alliance NI represents over 22,000 club members and 300,000 participants, spanning Swim Ulster, Paddle NI, Rowing Ireland NI Branch, the Royal Yachting Association Northern Ireland, the Ulster Angling Federation, the National Coarse Fishing Federation Ireland, and Triathlon Ireland. The Alliance is lobbying for a long-term funding commitment to improve water quality and regulation, investment in real-time water quality monitoring equipment, and a policy shift from 'bathing waters' to 'recreation waters' to reflect the full range of activities that depend on clean water.

The wider economic stakes are also significant. The 2019 Sport NI report, Assessing The Economic Impact of Outdoor Recreation in Northern Ireland, found that the outdoor recreation sector contributes at least £132 million in GVA to the local economy and supports over 4,800 full-time jobs.

Richard Honeyford, Executive Manager for the NI Sports Forum, said:

“The evidence is clear and deeply concerning. Every river stretch and lake in Northern Ireland is currently failing to meet good water quality status, and the seven sports we represent that rely on these waterways are feeling the impact firsthand. Athletes, clubs, and communities are being affected every day, with consequences for participation, performance, and wellbeing. As a collective voice for these sports, we are committed to supporting them by building the strongest possible evidence base. This is not a niche issue, it carries real social and economic consequences for Northern Ireland. By encouraging the public to report what they see this summer, we can ensure that when we go to government, we do so with evidence that is clear, credible, and impossible to ignore. Every report brings us closer to securing the lasting change our waterways and our sports urgently need.”

Ethan Loughrey, Marketing Executive at Outscape who are supporting the survey, added: "Reporting a poor water quality incident really could not be simpler. The survey takes just a couple of minutes to complete, reports can be backdated, and you can submit multiple entries if you have encountered problems on more than one occasion. Every report counts. If you have seen something that did not look or smell right on a river, lake, lough, or coastline whilst out, please take two minutes and let us know by clicking on https://tinyurl.com/yc5nrucv.”

“The data gathering period runs until Friday 31st July, so the sooner reports come in, the more complete a picture we can build."

Members of the public are encouraged to report any incidents they have experienced this year, including those which took place earlier in the season.



To submit a report, visit: https://tinyurl.com/yc5nrucv