Mark H Durkan: Wastewater infrastructure at ‘crisis point’
Water is key to life. We take it for granted, but we could not do without it. We only realise how much we need it during times of scarcity and crisis. In recent years, it has become clear that we have reached that crisis point, writes SDLP Foyle MLA, Mark H Durkan.
Only two years ago, the dire situation at Lough Neagh made international headlines as it became choked by toxic blue-green algae. Our failing wastewater infrastructure, which has resulted in over 200,000 tonnes of untreated sewage being discharged into the Lough annually, has been a key contributor to this unacceptable situation.
The problem extends far beyond environmental damage. Northern Ireland’s outdated and crumbling wastewater network is holding back the construction of housing, with more than 19,000 homes stalled in the planning system for this reason alone. Growing social housing waiting lists, rising rental costs, and increasing homelessness are some of the direct consequences of the failure to get a grip on our wastewater system.
Fixing the housing emergency is dependent on the creation of an efficient and resilient system of wastewater infrastructure. Chronic underinvestment in this area has left the system not only outdated but dangerously overwhelmed. Unless addressed urgently, the Executive has little hope of delivering its Housing Supply Strategy targets.
This challenge is not new; it is a crisis that has been years in the making. While the need for modernisation has been acknowledged for decades, strategic long-term investment has been repeatedly kicked down the road.
A recent Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) report outlines the severity of the problem, demonstrating the impact of underinvestment and an overreliance on in-year monitoring round funding. This stymies strategic decision-making and long-term planning, meaning we are caught jumping from problem to problem with sticking plaster solutions.
The NIAO report specifically highlights the inability to plan over a long-term timeframe, resulting in a failure to invest where it’s most needed. The reliance on unpredictable, annual funding not only makes long-term planning impossible, but also means that every year, NI Water must scramble to secure resources just to keep the show on the road.
“As we face ongoing crises in housing and economic stagnation, it is clear that the funding model for NI Water needs reform.”
Mark H Durkan MLA
The result? A broken system that is a risk to public health and a major barrier to economic growth. As we face ongoing crises in housing and economic stagnation, it is clear that the funding model for NI Water needs reform.
That is why the SDLP is backing the recommendations of the NIAO in calling for an independent review of NI Water. Such a review would address the fundamental questions of governance and funding that have plagued the utility for years.
It is time to stop burying our heads in the sand, repeating the same mistakes, and expecting different results. An independent review would allow us to explore the best way to fund NI Water for the long term.
Rather than tie us to a specific solution without assessing the consequences, or blindly accepting the status quo, we need a comprehensive review of what is possible, informed by expertise. Only through a thorough and independent examination can we ensure that the chosen path forward is both sustainable and effective, addressing the root causes rather than just the symptoms of the crisis.
Failing to act decisively on this issue will have consequences. Northern Ireland’s economy will continue to suffer if wastewater infrastructure continues to constrain development. Social housing projects will remain stalled, homelessness will rise, and private sector investment will be deterred. Inevitably, the environmental toll will worsen.
Poor wastewater management does not just affect Lough Neagh; it compromises water quality and public health across Northern Ireland. The consequences would be felt not just by our environment but by our communities and our economy.
By commissioning an independent review, we can bring forward the necessary expertise to make informed decisions about the future of NI Water. We cannot afford to let the crises facing housing, our environment, and economy worsen. It is time to act.
Water infrastructure is fundamental to our quality of life, our economy, and our environment. Continuing with the same piecemeal approach will only deepen the crisis. We believe that by addressing the root causes of NI Water’s funding and governance challenges, we can unlock economic potential, provide the housing our communities desperately need, and protect our precious natural resources.
It is time to build a sustainable future for Northern Ireland – one where water infrastructure supports rather than hinders growth. The independent review would represent the first vital step. We must learn from the mistakes of the past and ensure that history does not repeat itself.
This means being brave enough to make decisions that serve the long-term interests of our communities rather than opting for short-term fixes or avoiding difficult choices. If the Executive is serious about sustainable economic growth, tackling the housing emergency, or improving environmental protection, it will begin this process as a matter of urgency.
