Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has published a plan to deliver a 21st century drainage and wastewater system for Belfast.

Living With Water in Belfast: An Integrated Plan for Drainage and Wastewater Management in Greater Belfast aims to deliver a long-term approach to drainage and wastewater management for the city.

Minister Mallon said:

“The provision of efficient and effective drainage and wastewater management systems in Belfast is critical for our health and wellbeing, the environment and to the economic prosperity of the City. We only have to look at the devastating impacts of flooding for those living and working in affected areas to know that we must act now.

“If we fail to act and do nothing things will only get worse. Pressure is mounting on our aging drainage and wastewater infrastructure following years of chronic underinvestment which when combined with the impacts of climate change is literally creating the perfect storm with potentially devastating consequences.”

Belfast is already experiencing the effects - many of the sewerage networks and wastewater treatment works across Belfast at or nearing capacity, meaning that future connections for developments may not be accepted by NI Water.

This could constrain economic growth and halt building the new homes our citizens so desperately need as well as causing likely increased pollution and damage to the environment and greater risk to the population’s health and wellbeing.

Minister Mallon continued:

“Infrastructure is the key that unlocks our opportunities for growth and this Plan clearly makes the case for investment that will provide a 21st century wastewater system to serve the growing population and allow for economic growth.

“At £1.4 billion over 12 years it is not a quick, or inexpensive fix but this Plan sets out how we can achieve a thriving and resilient Belfast which is better protected and prepared for the future. “

Living With Water in Belfast proposes an integrated and collaborative approach to drainage and wastewater management which includes natural drainage solutions alongside conventional hard infrastructure such as bigger pipes, larger treatment works and higher flood defences.

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Kate Nicholl, said:

“I very much welcome the publication of this Plan which outlines a much-needed, long-term integrated approach to tackling drainage and wastewater management issues in the city. The climate emergency has rightly been high on the international news agenda in recent weeks and months, and the publication of the Plan during COP26 is timely as this work will help to create a cleaner and greener environment here in the future.

“The scale of the investment needed also demonstrates just how critical this work is for the city’s future prosperity. While it is extremely important that we protect residents and businesses from the threat of flooding, this investment in our infrastructure will also be crucial to enabling the city to grow sustainably in the future.”

NI Water’s Head of the Living With Water Programme (LWWP) Paddy Brow added:

“The publication of the Plan is a major milestone as it represents the culmination of five years of studies by the LWWP partners to assess the challenges faced and determine drainage and wastewater related investment needed for Greater Belfast. It also marks the start of the delivery phase.

“Today we have over 50 engineers working full time to deliver the construction works which will include upgrading six wastewater treatment works and their sea outfalls, replacing pumping stations, building new tunnels and upgrading pipelines and sewers across the area.”

“We are working closely with partners to deliver sustainable solutions that provide adaptation to climate change and will also, where possible, provide a range of benefits to communities such as improved green spaces. We are grateful for all the support being provided to help implement the Plan over the next 12 years, which will require a huge team effort of all LWWP partners, our supply chains and the communities that we serve.”

Belfast has experienced a number of serious flooding events in recent years and the water quality in Inner Belfast Lough has been deteriorating due to a combination of pollution from agriculture and discharges from wastewater treatment works and Combined Sewer Overflows.

The city’s Wastewater Treatment Works is having to treat a load that is 40% greater than it was designed for.

Five of the six Wastewater Treatment Works that discharge into Belfast Lough need to be upgraded to help water quality and provide additional treatment capacity needed to enable development and growth.

Currently 50% of 340 Combined Sewer Overflows in the area have been assessed as very unsatisfactory because they result in pollution (raw sewage mixed with rainwater) entering the waters at the Lough when it rains. If not addressed future development may be constrained and flooding and pollution will intensify.

Click here to download the final Plan