Today, over 30 architects packed out the RSUA boardroom to meet with senior representatives from NI Water, Stephanie McCullagh, Director of Customer & Operations, Davy McGrath and Gary Lawther, Head of Developer Services.
The NI Water representatives delivered a presentation on funding cuts and the impact on development.
The key takeaways from the meeting were as follows:
NI Water anticipate a funding shortfall of £1 billion over the next three year period.
Legislative change would be required to permit alternative funding avenues for NI Water.
In some areas, diluted raw sewage is flowing into water courses. These areas are therefore unable to accommodate new wastewater connections even with developer led funding. These are called Unsatisfactory Intermittent Discharge (UID) areas, of which there are currently 34 areas covering 23 towns. You can view them below. These require NI Water funded capital intervention which currently the budget does not allow for. NI Water plans to publish the an update list of affected areas on their website in September 2024. It is anticipated that the number of high polluting areas will increase from the current 34.
The Waste Water Impact Assessment (WWIA) process has improved over the last year. A further change is scheduled that will remove the request for a WWIA where it is high unlikely that a new wastewater connection can be accommodated.
The Department for Infrastructure is responsible for the policy on Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). An emerging policy on SuDS is expected in the autumn. NI Water will also be publishing a guide on domestic SuDS in the next couple of months.
RSUA members voiced concerns about the economic, environmental and social damage that will arise from the growing problems with waste water infrastructure.
RSUA suggested that NI Water becomes mutualised to open up alternative avenues for funding.
RSUA proposed a wastewater infrastructure levy that could be applied to developments across Northern Ireland, rather than just those areas where there were capacity problems.
NI Water’s full presentation from the meeting is available to view here.
RSUA raised its concerns about funding of NI Water with the Finance Minister in early August and is scheduled to meet with the Minister of Infrastructure in September.
