Fresh concerns over water infrastructure

MORE than a dozen waste water treatment facilities across Tyrone are currently at or near their capacity, according to a new report from the Northern Ireland Audit Office.

The report from the Comptroller and Auditor General, Dorinnia Carville, focuses on water infrastructure across the North.

It states that, among the waste water treatment facilities at or near capacity, are Augher, Cabragh, Mill Street in Aughnacloy, Clogher, Ballygawley, Cookstown, Beragh, Donemana, Drumquin, Dungannon, Eglish, Fivemiletown and Loughmacrory South. The report states that historic under-investment has meant that there are now ‘significant capacity issues’ affecting sewerage and water infrastructure.

“Despite the trend of long-term improvement in NI Water’s performance, there are widespread concerns amongst key stakeholders relating to water infrastructure,” she said. “There are approximately 100 areas across Northern Ireland, including 25 cities and main towns, where NI Water considers it cannot provide positive responses to new development planning applications.

“The inability to approve new developments and the need to conduct wastewater impact assessments poses a significant risk to the NI Executive being able to deliver some of its long-term economic, social and environmental objectives.”

The report states that the main cause of restrictions on development is NI Water determining that there is insufficient capacity within existing sewerage and wastewater infrastructure in these areas to support the additional demand that would be introduced by proposed new development. The Comptroller and Auditor General goes on to state that a ‘very real consequence’ of under-investment is that there are many areas where new development, including the construction of homes and other buildings, is restricted due to insufficient capacity to connect to sewage and wastewater services.

“The current funding model that applies to the Department and NI Water creates uncertainty and constraints around securing and using resources and this has been further compounded by wider economic volality.”

Last year, a report by NI Water highlighted ‘serious capacity’ issues in Carrickmore and Omagh, and stated that there was currently no capacity in areas such as Beragh and Sixmilecross, Drumquin, Gortin, Seskinore and Knockmoyle. Concerns were expressed that this would mean new housing developments might not be built.