Blackstaff (Ards) River — water body quality
near Kircubbin, Ards and North Down
Blackstaff (Ards) River is a river in Ards and North Down, near Kircubbin, extending 6.3 km.
Official classification
Bad
Assessed 2026
Bad is the lowest Water Framework Directive class, indicating severe alteration: large parts of the biological community expected in an undisturbed water body of this type are missing.
| Stretch | Status |
|---|---|
| Blackstaff (Ards) River | Bad |
Overall status reflects the worst stretch (precautionary).
This water body
- Type
- River
- Length
- 6.3 km
- County
- Ards and North Down
- Location
- 54.4660, -5.4975
Others in Ards and North Down
This page shows water-quality information, not swim-safety advice. For today's conditions and swim-safety guidance, check Water Safety Ireland.
Official classifications on this page contain DAERA/NIEA Water Framework Directive classification data © Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0.