River Basin Districts Protected Areas

The River Basin Districts have important habitats and wildlife living in areas identified as needing special protection under existing laws.

These areas need action to protect their surface water or groundwater, or to conserve habitats or species that directly depend on these waters. We have set-up, and will continue to maintain, a register of protected areas.

Protected Areas Categories

Water used for drinking water

This is a new category of protected area (replacing the Surface Water Abstraction Directive (75/440/EEC) at end 2007) that also incorporates groundwaters.

This information is available for public viewing by appointment at the Water Management Unit.

Other protected area categories, set-up by earlier European Commission (EC) directives, are listed below.For further information go to the River Basin Plan Map Viewer.

They include:

Bathing Waters

Waters designated under the Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC).

Birds

Waters and wetland areas designated under the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) for the protection of habitats or species where the quality of water is important in their protection.

Freshwater Fish

Waters designated under the Freshwater Fish Directive (78/659/EEC) to protect freshwater fish.

Habitats

Waters and wetland areas designated under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) for the protection of habitats or species where water quality is an important factor in their protection.

Shellfish

Waters designated under the Shellfish Directive (79/923/EEC) for the protection of shellfish.

Nitrates Designated Area

Northern Ireland is designated as total territory under the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC).

Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) Designated Areas

Areas designated as 'sensitive' under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC).