Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), DAERA, Deirdre Quinn.
Abstract
This presentation highlights Northern Ireland's water monitoring efforts led by the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA), focusing on principles of continuity, innovation, and transparency. Monitoring aligns with legislative reporting requirements and the Lough Neagh Action Plan, integrating traditional methods like Water Framework Directive (WFD) sampling with innovative approaches such as rapid assessment techniques and in-situ instrumentation. Emphasis is placed on enhancing spatial and temporal coverage through efficient resource use, sharing data for broader applications, and adopting new techniques for monitoring issues like Blue-Green Algae. Looking forward, there's a call to establish a National Data Sharing Centre to improve collaboration and maximize the impact of water monitoring efforts.