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Water & Sewerage

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

The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations (NI) 2007 as amended by SR2009/246.

This is an UNOFFICIAL consolidated version created to aid the water industry to implement these regulations

UNOFFICIAL consolidated version of Water Quality (NI) Regulations 2007 as amended.pdf.PDF Document 245kb

The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

The proposed subordinate legislation, The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 has been agreed and finalised, and came into operation on 15 July 2009. The full Amendment Regulations and accompanying Explanatory Memorandum as well as the Consultation Report on the findings of the public consultation, can be found via the links below.

Water Quality Amendment Consultation Report pdf PDF Document 62.5kb

Water Quality Amendment Explanatory Memorandum pdf PDF Document 23kb

Official Water Quality Amendment Regulations pdf PDF Document 171kb

Consultation On Draft Environmental & Social Guidance for Water And Sewerage Services

Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy launched a public consultation on the Draft Environmental & Social Guidance for Water and Sewerage Services on 03 March 2009. This guidance set out how the Minister expected 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. This consultation is not about the way water and sewerage services should be funded.

The consultation lasted for ten weeks and ended on 8 May 2009. Copies of the consultation and draft guidance can be downloaded from the link below, or can be obtained by contacting the Department at waterpolicy@drdni.gov.uk.

Draft Environmental & Social Guidance Press Release 03 March 2009 PDF Document

Draft Environmental & Social Guidance for Water and Sewerage Services Consultation Documents PDF Document

Draft Environmental & Social Guidance for Water and Sewerage Services Equality Screening PDF Document

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 Document  

The Water Supply ( Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 were made under articles 114 and 300 of the Water and Sewerage Services Order (Northern Ireland) 2006 to prevent the waste, misuse, undue consumption, contamination or erroneous measurement of drinking water.

The Regulations set requirements for the design, installation and maintenance of plumbing systems and water fittings in Northern Ireland. They will be enforced by Northern Ireland Water Limited.

The Regulations came into operation on 3 August 2009.

The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (NI) 2009 pdf PDF Document 110kb

Explanatory Memorandum to Fittings Regulations pdf PDF Document 95kb

Water Fittings Regulations - Consultation Report pdf PDF Document 91kb

Guidance for  the Water Fittings regulations. pdf PDF Document 26kb

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 Opens in a new window

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 Opens in a new window

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 Opens in a new window

IWRP Press Release 12 October 2007 Opens in a new window

Strand 1 Report 12 October 2007 Opens in a new window

Independent Panel's Website Opens in a new window

Terms of Reference Opens in a new window

Press Release 22 October 2007 Opens in a new window

IWRP Press Release 28 January 2008 Opens in a new window

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