Invest now or NI Water infrastructure will fail

Water service in Northern Ireland is at a tipping point as its infrastructure is “bursting at the seams”, according to NI Water’s chairman.

Speaking at NI Water’s annual report launch Len O’Hagan said the company had never been in better shape operationally but needed substantial investment to upgrade infrastructure.

“We are facing a tipping point, we need to start making decisions now if we want to maintain water services that one would expect in a healthy, western European economy.”

The publicly owned utility has previously complained it is under-funded and unable to maintain and upgrade its system due to public spending constraints.

Last year Michael Roberts of Water UK said there is a big gap between the money Northern Ireland Water needs for vital new water mains and upgraded wastewater treatment plants, and the money they get from government.

Between 2015 – 2021 NI Water received £990 million, which was significantly under the £1.7 billion it required

O’Hagan said the country’s largest economic region Belfast alone required a billion-pound investment in drainage but recommended further investment of up to £2.5 billion for the city’s water system to “remain fit for purpose”.

He called for the Department for Infrastructure and the Department of Finance to offer finance solutions.

“Funding at this level will not solve all of the issues, but it will allow us to address 70 per cent of our used water capacity problems whilst protecting drinking water and enhancing environmental protection.”

He added the company has become adept at achieving “more for less” in terms of investment but the company requires investment to deliver its service.

“We are embracing technology in many forms, from the use of data analytics and artificial intelligence to innovative energy procurement and generation.  As Northern Ireland’s largest energy user, we have a leadership responsibility in helping to lower the harmful Co2 emissions that are driving the climate emergency which was declared by the UK parliament on 2^nd May.”

The company’s draft strategy sets out its business plans for 2021 to 2046 and called for additional funding to avert the looming infrastructure crisis O’Hagan highlighted.