The Northern Ireland branch of Rowing Ireland has joined forces with six other water-based National Governing Bodies to form the Clean Water Sports Alliance NI, aiming to tackle the growing issue of water pollution in Northern Ireland. With six out of seven Olympic medals from NI athletes at Paris 2024 coming from water-based events, clean water is not just an environmental concern—it’s a crucial part of performance sport and recreation across the country.
Together, this coalition represents 22,000 club members, athletes, over 300,000 participants, and countless other water users who rely on Northern Ireland’s rivers, lakes, and coastal areas for sport and leisure. Their mission is clear: to restore and protect these blue spaces, ensuring they remain pollution-free and thriving ecosystems for both people and wildlife.
On April 2, representatives from the Clean Water Sports Alliance NI gathered at Stormont to officially launch Clean Water Sports Alliance NI. Their campaign is centred around three key demands:
1. Long-term funding to improve water quality and strengthen regulation.
2. Investment in real-time water quality monitoring to provide accurate, up-to-date data.
3. A policy shift from ‘bathing waters’ to ‘recreation waters’ to reflect the wide range of activities that depend on clean water.
The 2024 River Trust “State of Our Rivers” report revealed that 100% of Northern Ireland’s rivers and lakes failed to meet ‘good’ overall status, underscoring the urgent need for action. Without intervention, the health of participants and the future of performance sports in NI are at risk.
The Clean Water Sports Alliance NI is a major step forward in the fight to protect our waterways. But for real change, this movement needs strong government commitment and public support. See here for more resources on how to support this campaign.
