AQW 9074/17-22

Miss Jemma Dolan
Sinn Féin
Fermanagh and South Tyrone

Tabled Date: 20/10/2020
Answered On Date: 29/10/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure when she plans to allocate funding to NI Water to upgrade the wastewater treatment works in (i) Castle Archdale; (ii) Ederney; (iii) Garrison; (iv) Belleek; and (v) Enniskillen, Co.Fermanagh.

Answer:

The table below sets out recent and proposed capital investment by NI Water at the five named wastewater treatment works. NI Water is not currently planning any capital investment to upgrade these wastewater treatment works within the coming six year price control period 2021-2027 (PC21).

Castle Archdale	These works received significant investment (ca £1 million) in PC15 (2015 to 2021) to deliver a sustainable Integrated Constructed Wetland serving the area. This was a PC15 Nominated Output WwTW project. Investment during the 6 year PC21 period (2021-2027), other than base maintenance is not anticipated by NI Water.
Ederney	A PC15 capital upgrade for this works was delivered in 2018 delivering £315k of investment. Investment during the 6 year PC21 period (2021-2027), other than base maintenance is not anticipated by NI Water.
Garrison	Investment during the 6 year PC21 period, other than base maintenance, is not anticipated by NI Water.
Belleek	Investment during the 6 year PC21 period, other than base maintenance, is not anticipated by NI Water.
Enniskillen	Investment during the 6 year PC21 period, other than base maintenance, is not anticipated by NI Water. However investment in the sewerage network is anticipated to take place within the first four years of PC21, with delivery completed by the end of March 2025 (subject to adequate funding of NI Water’s PC21 Business Plan).

NI Water is suffering from historic underfunding. If this was to continue, the company would be unable to address the majority of wastewater service issues that are constraining economic development in many locations, and it would lead to increasing occurrences of failed environment compliance.

The Utility Regulator published its PC21 Draft Determination on 30 September 2020, indicating a capital allocation for NI Water of just short of £2bn, against actual capital funding over the PC15 period of around £940m. Therefore, the forward look into PC21 is likely to be very challenging. I will continue to make the case for increased funding for our water and waste water infrastructure to the Finance Minister and Executive colleagues.