NI Water is calling on Government policy makers and regulators to tap into the potential of its water and wastewater infrastructure to tackle the climate emergency and nature crisis.

The call comes with the publication of the water company’s Annual Integrated Report for 2020/21.

Launching the Report, Sara Venning, Chief Executive, NI Water, outlined the role that NI Water can play to tackle the challenges:

“The impact of climate change can be seen in weather related events such as temperature extremes, floods and droughts. Such events can have a range of economic and social costs, which can too often fall on the most vulnerable in society.”

“We are determined to tap into the largely unseen potential for NI Water to address climate change and restore biodiversity. We believe that our infrastructure, which includes significant land holdings and over 3,000 grid connected sites across Northern Ireland, can play a strategically important role in helping society to meet these challenges.

“Our big, bold ideas were launched in 2020/21 and include nature based solutions such as planting one million trees and restoring our peat bogs; building more renewables on our land; kick-starting our hydrogen economy; and providing sources of warmth for district heating schemes.”

However, she went on to warn that crystallising these opportunities requires that Government commit “to properly funding our critical infrastructure.“

£2 billion+ PC21 investment plans "not a ‘wish list’ or a ‘nice to have’

She continued:

“Over £2 billion is required in our next business plan period PC21 (2021-27), including £0.5 billion for the Living With Water Programme to address strategic drainage in Belfast. This investment is required to start to address the problems of economic development constraints facing our towns and cities. These constraints are impacting adversely on social housing and wider building construction. This is not a ‘wish list’ or a ‘nice to have’; this is the plan that will help us ensure NI Water can deliver in a strong, modern regional economy.”

“Changes are also required to Government policy, funding and regulation to rethink infrastructure as a total interconnected system rather than isolated silos. These changes can help our economy to be productive and competitive in a decarbonised world.”

“We look forward to providing further details on the ‘Power of Water’ to address climate change and restore biodiversity in the lead up to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) later this year.”

“NI Water stands ready to deliver. Our PC21 business plan will start to address the underinvestment in our infrastructure and the damage it has caused to our economy and the natural environment. We have consistently demonstrated the importance of this investment to enable a healthy and thriving population, a growing economy and a flourishing natural environment. We need a multi-year funding settlement from Government to efficiently deliver our multi-year plan. So much, which is so very important, to so many, now depends on it.”

The Utility Regulator’s Final Determination on NI Water’s PC21 Business Plan (2021-27) was published in May 2021 - NI Water had until 13 July 2021 to decide on acceptability.

The Board of NI Water was encouraged to see that the first year of PC21 (2021/22) has been fully funded by the Department for Infrastructure and the Northern Ireland Executive. On the basis that the PC21 Final Determination continues to be fully funded, the Board of NI Water notified the Utility Regulator on 6 July that it was minded to accept the PC21 Final Determination.

The Board remains in discussion with the Department for Infrastructure and other Government Departments to ensure that there is support and continuing commitment to fund the determination.

Click here to download NI Water’s Annual Integrated Report for 2020/21