AQO 1047/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 17/10/2024
Answered On Date: 04/11/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for his assessment of the impact of sewage on water quality.

Answer:

I am very aware of the impact of sewage pollution on water quality. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency undertakes an extensive water quality monitoring programme within Northern Ireland’s rivers and lakes.

NIEA’s river water body monitoring, indicates that 51% of river water bodies are impacted by agriculture, 26 % by sewage related pressures and a further 22 % impacted by both by sewage pressures and agricultural land use.

Research led by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute was published in October 2020. This research examined substance flow analysis for phosphorus in the Northern Ireland’s food system. Of all the phosphorus lost to water, and estimated 36% was due to sewage, of which 24 % was attributed to wastewater and a further 12 % to septic tanks.

I am committed to working with the DfI Minister and with Executive colleagues to address the funding constraints that are having a significant impact on NI Water’s ability to invest and upgrade its wastewater infrastructure.

The recently approved Environmental Improvement Plan sets out my commitment to improving water quality in Northern Ireland, including the requirement to publish the third cycle River Basin Management Plan and associated Programme of Measures. Work to improve water quality will require collective action across government, the public and private sectors and wider society.