Mid and East Antrim councillors have been given an update by NI Water at a recent meeting of the Borough Council’s Environment and Economy Committee.
Dr Steve Brockwell, NI Water’s head of investment management, engineering and sustainability directorate, told the committee that a “couple of £100 million” is needed to upgrade Northern Ireland’s water infrastructure.
Councillors heard that it costs approximately £680m annually to deliver water services to 910,000 domestic and business customers. Maintenance includes more than 43,000 kilometres of water mains and sewers. There are 24 water treatment works in the province. Drinking water is stored in 367 reservoirs.
Last year, NI Water commenced a £1.8m programme of work to upgrade Lower Woodburn waste water pumping station at Belfast Road in Carrickfergus.
The “extensive upgrade” will see a complete overhaul of the existing underground pumping station with additional storm water storage and screening facilities installed to “provide environmental protection and reduce the risk of out-of-sewer flooding”.
A proposed programme of investments in Mid and East Antrim, dependent on funding, includes a waste water treatment works for Carrickfergus and a programme to tackle “intermittent discharge” at the town’s Marine Highway as well as a waste water treatment works for Larne.
In the meantime, Dr Brockwell indicated that NI Water is “maximising existing infrastructure to buy a bit of time”.
He proceeded to outline NI Water’s consultation role in planning applications. He said that NI Water will support applications if there are no capacity issues or a solution has been agreed following the impact assessment process.
“Our message to developers is to contact NI Water early and submit a pre-development inquiry to ascertain if there are capacity issues. If not, NI Water will support their planning application. If there are, we will have to complete an assessment,” said Dr Brockwell.
Former Bannside TUV Councillor Timothy Gaston asked about capacity issues and how much financial investment in NI Water’s network is needed. Dr Brockwell indicated investment of a “couple of £100m” would be required.
In response to a query about so-called “fatbergs”, he said blockages caused by a build-up of wet wipes, fats, oils and grease into a solid mass are “endemic across the whole sewer network”, particularly in urban areas.
“In the 21st century, things are going down sewers they were not designed for,” he stated.
Committee chair Coast Road Ulster Unionist Alderman Maureen Morrow said:
“Larne has been waiting for waste treatment expansion for about ten years. It has been causing all sorts of difficulties in development.”
Dr Brockwell replied: “We are looking at a solution for Larne which is complex.” He indicated that no construction by NI Water is likely to occur before 2027 and it will be “subject to a level of investment we are afforded”.
Ald Morrow remarked: “Oh dear. See if you can get Larne moved up the list.”