Bathing Warning Lifted at Portstewart Strand
Officials have withdrawn the advisory against bathing at Portstewart Strand following water tests that confirmed the area poses no risk to the public. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) initially issued the notice on Wednesday after a suspected pollution incident at the popular north coast beach.
The advisory was implemented to enable the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and Daera to collect water samples as part of their investigation. On Thursday, Daera reported that bacteria levels from sewage or animal waste were not elevated enough to constitute a health risk.
County Down Beach Advisory Also Removed
The National Trust, which manages Portstewart Strand, confirmed they had been informed that water sampling results had
"returned within normal limits".
The initial warning at Portstewart Strand had advised the public to avoid swimming and recommended that dogs be kept on leads and away from the water during the investigation. Signs warning against bathing have since been removed.
Daera also stated that a similar temporary bathing advisory issued on Tuesday for Helen's Bay in County Down has been lifted following water testing.
Members of the public are encouraged to check the NI Bathing Water Quality Dashboard and on-site signage for the latest updates.
