Water & Sewerage

Welcome to the Water Policy Division of the Department for Regional Development.

Independent Water Review Panel - Reports

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 today (28 January 2008). The Report contains 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

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 2007

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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 has two strands. The first strand focuses on the cost of water and sewerage services and how these will be funded;and the second strand concentrates 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 2007 The Report contains 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

Ministerial Guidance

The Minister issued a statement clarifying the position on NIW costs for 20008/09 on 24/04/08.

Press Release 24 April 2008

He gave notice of the publication on the DRD website of guidance issued to the Regulator on the 2008/09 position.  The Minister's letter containing the guidance is in the link below.

APPROVAL OF 2008/09 CHARGES SCHEME BY REGULATOR & REGULATOR'S VIEWS ON EFFICIENCY TARGETS & ROAD DRAINAGE COSTS

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