New Derry sewer plan set for completion in 2021; £31.25m spend slated

The plan will consider public sanitation infrastructure on a local network that covers an area of around 2,600 hectares.

NI Water, meanwhile, has identified eight key projects in Derry and Strabane that will cost £31.25m over the 2021-27 price control period.

Progress on the eight priority wastewater projects depends on £3.36billion requested by NI Water for the PC21 funding period being allocated and this is far from certain.

Sinn Féin MLA Martina Anderson asked the Minister for Infrastructure Nichola Mallon when the findings of “the Culmore study, to assess sewerage and wastewater capacity in Derry, will be published; and what steps she will take to ensure sewerage and wastewater capacity issues do not put building planning applications in Derry on hold”.

The Minister replied: “NI Water is currently progressing a Drainage Area Plan for the Derry drainage area (i.e. the Culmore study). The current forecast completion date for the DAP is summer/autumn 2021.

“NI Water’s role in the planning process is that of a Statutory Consultee. It has been engaging with Derry City & Strabane District Council on wastewater system capacity issues over several years.

“Over the last two years, substantial survey/investigative work has been undertaken throughout Derry to inform the DAP process (including flow survey, network asset surveys and CCTV investigations). At this point, NI Water will have a more detailed understanding of the capacity issues and as such be better positioned to provide outline solutions.”

Ms. Mallon explained that significant investment was programmed for Derry but this was funding dependent.

Last year NI Water told the DC&SDC Environment & Regeneration Committee it needed £3.36billion over the PC21 period of which £2.54billion was recommended for investment, but not all of this has been allocated.

NI Water’s spending is controlled by the Utility Regulator through ‘price control’ due its status as a monopoly supplier.

The Minister said: “NI Water has advised me that it has included eight projects for the Derry area in its business plan for the period 2021-2027, known as Price Control 21. These eight projects would cost an estimated £31.25 Million. However, this investment will only happen if all of the funding requested for PC21 is funded. The business case for PC21 is currently being reviewed by the Utility Regulator who will work with NI Water and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to prioritise all of the projects in the business case.

“I aim to ensure that my Department will do all it can to assist in tackling these capacity issues. However, my budget is subject to a number of competing priorities. I have, therefore, engaged with the Finance Minister to highlight the critical need to secure the funding that I require to ensure sewerage and wastewater capacity issues do not put building planning applications in Derry and across the north on hold.”