The Minister confirmed a Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) assessment of Northern Ireland Water’s (NI Water) compliance during 2007 which revealed an increase from 58% in 2001 to 84% in 2007.
NIEA carries out the assessment to check that the sewage Northern Ireland Water has consent to discharge complies with both NIEA and European standards.
The assessment compares the 2007 figure with NI Water’s predecessor, the Water Service compliance covering the period from 2002 to 2006.
Environment Minister Sammy Wilson was pleased to note the figures demonstrated a sustained improvement by NI Water in the quality of discharges from wastewater treatment works since 2002.
The Minister noted: “Discharge standards have improved significantly since 2002 and what these figures prove is that investment in wastewater treatment works is making a real difference.
“The current investment of £1million per working day to develop water and sewerage services throughout Northern Ireland is reflected in these improved compliance figures. This is good news for everyone as it enhances the environment – something we all have a stake in.”
The Minister said NIEA had established itself as an effective regulator and had played a key role in scrutinising NI Water to make sure it met the performance levels expected by the public.
Water Service lost Crown Immunity when it became NI Water, a Government Owned company (GoCo) on 1 April 2007.
As a result, NI Water is subject to the same penalties as any other commercial company if their discharge does not meet the standards set in the Water (Northern Ireland) Order. The company has so far been successfully prosecuted for six pollution incidents that occurred in 2007 and a further four cases are being progressed.
The Minister concluded: “The combination of investment by NI Water and the effective regulation by NIEA has led to this significant and important progress.
“Each organisation should maintain this standard and strive to make continuous improvements for the benefit of the environment.”
Notes to Editors:
- Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), the former Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) is Northern Ireland’s environmental regulator, and is an agency of DOE.
- NIEA is responsible for regulation of discharges to the water environment from Northern Ireland Water Limited (NIW), the former Water Service. NIEA is also responsible for responding to pollution incidents, monitoring the chemical and biological quality of the aquatic environment, regulation of effluent discharges and agricultural pollution, pollution prevention advice and education, and the development and implementation of river basin management plans.
- Prior to April 2007, Water Service was an executive agency within DRD and was responsible for the supply and distribution of public drinking water and the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater.
- Under the Water (NI) Order 1999 NIEA sets consents for discharges for privately operated sewage treatment works, as well as industrial discharges. Sewage and other wastewater discharges made by the Water Service also require discharge standards. Whilst Water Service as a Crown body was not bound by the statutory discharge consent requirements of the Order a separate but technically similar regulatory system was established to control its discharges.
- The Water Service was subject to the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment (UWWT) Directive and the Regulations that implement it. Its discharges were regulated by standards and conditions set out in what are termed 'registered standards', which were placed on a public register along with compliance information.
- Water Service in 2006 was part of central government and subject to Crown immunity. Enforcement was limited to NIEA issuing advisory letters detailing the non-compliance issues and requesting Water Service provides an explanation and remedial action plan.
- On 1 April 2007 the Water Service became a Government Owned Company, Northern Ireland Water Limited (NIW), with the resultant loss of Crown immunity.
- A regulatory system has been developed that takes account of the current condition of Water Service’s infrastructure while ensuring that NIW is otherwise subject to the full legislative requirements of the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.
- For media enquiries please contact the DOE Press Office on 028 9054 0014 or out of office hours, contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
