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Welcome to the Water Policy Division of the Department for Regional Development.
Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2013.
The Water & Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill (Northern Ireland) passed through the Assembly and received Royal Assent on 25 April 2013.
The Act extends NI Water’s subsidy period to 31 March 2016 and also provides for the registration of statutory charges in respect of certain works on private land.
water_and_sewerage_services_act_2013.pdf
RURAL BOREWELLS SCHEME OPEN TO RECEIVE APPLICATIONS
1 May 2013
Rural Development Minister Michelle O’Neill and Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy today announced the reopening of the Rural Borewells Scheme.
The Scheme aims to provide access to affordable safe drinking water in rural homes, built before 2000, that are beyond the reach of the public network.
Minister O’Neill said: “The Rural Borewells Scheme is providing access to affordable safe drinking water for many rural homes that are beyond the reach of the public network. The scheme has made a huge difference in the lives of those 27 rural householders supported to date and I look forward to many more similar success stories in the future”.
“My Department developed this innovative scheme in partnership with the Department for Regional Development (DRD) and has proven to be an excellent example of what can be achieved through government departments working together to achieve a common goal.”
Explaining further the detail of the Scheme Minister O’Neill said: “Up to £12,000 is available per project towards the overall cost of geological surveys, water testing, borewells installation and water treatment with applications sought from owners and landlords of domestic rural properties. The application window closes at the end of May, but the Scheme may run for up to two more years, subject to demand.”
The grant scheme towards private borewells meets with DRD’s existing policy objective of providing financial assistance via a Reasonable Cost Allowance and funds a maximum of £12,000 to help householders obtain a wholesome water supply.
Danny Kennedy said: "Many people in Northern Ireland simply have to walk to their kitchen and turn on a tap to enjoy a supply of water. For some of our neighbours living in isolated areas, life can be very different and getting water can mean a walk to an outside well”.
"We are changing that, and with Departments working together, delivering initiatives like the Borewell Scheme, we are making a positive difference for people.
I would encourage anyone who does not have a direct water supply to their home to act now and take advantage of this, literally life changing, scheme".
DARD administer the scheme on a day-to-day basis as one of a range of initiatives included in its’ ‘Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Framework’ to help those living in rural areas facing difficulties with access to services which are freely available elsewhere.
To request an application pack please contact DARD Rural Development Division on 028 82 253512 or email Ruralborewells@dardni.gov.uk
Applications must be returned to DARD, Sperrin House, Sedan Avenue, Lisnamallard, Omagh, County Tyrone by 4.00pm on Friday 31May 2013.
Notes for editors:
1. The grant is primarily aimed at properties that were built before 2000 and occupied as principal residences. Evidence will be required that the cost of a public water mains requisition exceeds the existing reasonable cost allowance by £500 or more.
2. At present NI Water (NIW) currently provides a Reasonable Cost Allowance to extend the public water main. For properties built before 2000 DRD supplements this allowance to a total of £12,000 per property. However, this still left many rural dwellings with fairly substantial costs to connect.
3. A consultation process was undertaken to consider how DRD could provide financial assistance to allow householders to get a mains extension or have access to some other wholesome water supply. The outcome supported the introduction of a grant scheme to provide private borewells which DRD fund and DARD deliver.
4. Properties that are ‘not served’ are those that do not have a water main in the public road nearest to the property (or within 100m of the nearest access point.)
5. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, Tel: 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
Revised Water Stakeholders Partnership Agreement
The Minister for Regional Development, Danny Kennedy MLA, has welcomed the publication of the revised Water Stakeholders Partnership Agreement (first published in October 2008) which was recently endorsed by the statutory bodies involved in the governance of the water industry. The Partnership Agreement sets out structures for co-operation and principles for working together for key stakeholders – the Utility Regulator, the Consumer Council, NIW, DRD, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the NI Environment Agency - to achieve the common objective of 'Getting water and sewerage services right for today’s and tomorrow’s consumers and taxpayers through good governance that achieves the right balance of efficiency, fairness, affordability, sustainability, value for money and quality.’
Water Stakeholders Partnership Agreement 2012.pdf
Review of Financial Assistance for Domestic Properties not Served by a Water Main
In November 2010, the Department for Regional Development published a consultation on proposals to review the provision of financial assistance for domestic properties not served by a water main. The consultation ended on 4 February 2011 and the Department received approximately 50 responses. In addition, officials held public meetings in three locations to gauge the reaction of the people in some of the areas that are not served by water mains. A report summarising respondents’ views and the Department's proposals on improving financial assistance for householders to obtain a wholesome water supply can be obtained by clicking the following link
"Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 - The Preservation of Services and Civil Emergency Measures (Relevant Undertaker) (Northern Ireland) Direction 2010"
The Preservation of Services and Civil Emergency Measures (Relevant Undertaker) (Northern Ireland) Direction 2010 came in to operation on 02 August 2010 when it was sealed by the official seal of the Department for Regional Development. The Direction was made to lay out requirements and facilitate DRD to give Guidance for the Northern Ireland water industry to make plans and provision for mitigating the events of a civil emergency and to preserve services.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department for Regional Development and the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation
This document is an agreement between the Department for Regional Development (DRD) and the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (NIAUR) covering the work of the regulation of Northern Ireland Water. NIAUR is an independent non-ministerial government department responsible for economic regulation of the water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland.
MOU between DRD and NIAUR.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) betweeen the Department for Regional Development and the Department of the Environment
This document is an agreement between the Department for Regional Development (DRD) and the Department of the Environment (DOE) covering the work of the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI). DWI is part of DOE but works on behalf of DRD regulating the quality and safety of public water supplies provided by Northern Ireland Water.
DRD-DOE MOU regarding DWI
The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 came into operation on 20 April 2010. The Regulations amend the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 in order to meet Drinking Water Directive requirements. The Amendment Regulations and accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Transposition Note can be found via the links below.
The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Amendment) Regulations(Northern Ireland) 2010.pdf
Water Policy Division - The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 Explanatory Memorandum and Transpositon Note pdf.
The Water Supply (Domestic Distribution Systems) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
The Water Supply (Domestic Distribution Systems) Regulations(Northern Ireland) 2010 came into operation on 20 April 2010. The Regulations are made jointly with the Department of the Environment and satisfy the Drinking Water Directive requirement of dealing with water quality failures which are attributable to the domestic distribution system in premises where water is supplied to the public. The Regulations and accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Transposition Note can be found via the links below.
Water Policy Division - The Water Supply (Domestic Distribution Systems) Regulations(Northern Ireland) 2010 Final Explanatory Memorandum and Transposition Note pdf.
The Water Supply (Domestic Distribution Systems) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 pdf
Social & Environmental Guidance for Water and Sewerage Services (2010-13)
Social and Environmental Guidance for Water and Sewerage Services (2010-13) was laid before the Assembly on 21 April 2010 under Article 7 of the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.
This Guidance sets out how Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy expects the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation to contribute to key areas of social and environmental policy in its regulation of water and sewerage services provided by Northern Ireland Water.
Copies of the Final Guidance, Draft Guidance and Consultation Report can be downloaded from the links below, or can be obtained by contacting the Department at waterpolicy@drdni.gov.uk.
Final Social and Environmental Guidance for Water and Sewerage Services 2010-2013.pdf
Draft Guidance Consultation Document pdf
Consultation Report pdf
Water Stakeholders Partnership Agreement
The statutory bodies involved in the governance of the water industry – the Utility Regulator, the Consumer Council, NIW, DRD, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the NI Environment Agency established a Water Stakeholders’ Steering Group in October 2008. This group, consisting of a senior representative from each organisation, provides a forum for high-level oversight of future water and sewerage investment priorities and discussion of major cross cutting issues. A Partnership Agreement was endorsed at the first meeting of the Steering Group.
Water Stakeholder Partnership Agreement (PDF 348kb)
Minister Welcomes the Publication of the Report on Strand 2 of the Review of Water and Sewerage Services
Conor Murphy MP MLA welcomed the publication of the Report on Strand 2 of the Independent Review of water and sewerage services. The full text of the statement can be accessed by clicking on the following link
Strand 2 Press Release 28 January 2008 
Review of Water and Sewerage Services: Strand 2 Report
The Independent Water Review Panel (IWRP), led by Paddy Hilliard, published it's second and final report on 28 January 2008. The Report contained over 40 recommendations dealing with management, governance and delivery of water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland.
The full text of the report can be accessed by clicking on the following link:
Strand 2 Report 28 January 2008
Background
The current framework for the utility is set out in the Water and Sewerage (NI) Order 2006 which provides for an "undertaker" to run water and sewerage services. A company - Northern Ireland Water - was appointed as sole water and sewerage undertaker for Northern Ireland. The company is 100% owned by the Government (through DRD). It took over from the Department's Water Service Agency from 1 April 2007. The land, assets and staff of the Water Service Agency transferred to the company on 1 April.
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Review of Water & Sewerage Services
On 10 May 2007 the Northern Ireland Executive confirmed that proposed new annual charges for water and sewerage would not be imposed in 2007-08 and that they would establish a comprehensive review to address the longer term approach that should be adopted in relation to financing water and sewerage services.
Under the terms of reference announced by the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MLA, to the Assembly on 11 June 2007, the review had two strands. The first strand focused on the cost of water and sewerage services and how these will be funded and the second strand concentrated on the wider aspects of the management and governance arrangements for water and sewerage services.
The Independent Water Review Panel (IWRP), led by Professor Paddy Hillyard, published its Strand 1 Report on 12 October. The Report contained over 30 recommendations on the fundamental issues of financing water and sewerage services and the level of funding required.
A copy of the Strand 1 Report as well as the press releases issued by the Department of Regional Development and the Independent Water Review Panel are listed below.
DRD Press Release 12 October 2007
IWRP Press Release 12 October 2007
Strand 1 Report 12 October 2007
Independent Panel's Website
Terms of Reference
Press Release 22 October 2007
IWRP Press Release 28 January 2008
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