Water Policy - Water Reform Implementation
Along with the transfer of responsibility for delivery of water and sewerage services to Northern Ireland Water, a new independent, regulatory regime was established to oversee the water industry. The main regulator is the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation which also oversees the gas and electricity utilities. Environmental regulation is carried out by DOE's Environment and Heritage Service and water quality monitoring by the Drinking Water Inspectorate. The Department also has a regulatory role. The remit of the Consumer Council was extended to cover water as consumer representative.
The legislation introduces new rights for consumers as well as providing for full environmental enforcement in the water and sewerage area for the first time as a result of the removal of Crown immunity.
The new arrangements set out the framework for the introduction of domestic charging for water and sewerage services and for an investment programme worth billions of pounds to update and maintain Northern Ireland's infrastructure.