Plans to strengthen the enforcement and regulation of water pollution in Northern Ireland have been announced.
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Andrew Muir has told MLAs that Northern Ireland’s water environment is “facing mounting and unacceptable pressures”.
The minister said there are only 29% of surface waterbodies achieving good ecological status and more than 20 million tonnes of untreated sewage and wastewater spilling into waterways each year.
“Clearly this is not only an environmental issue. It affects public health, the economy and the confidence people have in the safety of the waters they use,” he said.
“To rebuild public confidence, we must ensure regulation is fair, impartial and proportionate and applied consistently across all sectors: public bodies; agriculture; private businesses; and industry.”
Pollution
In a statement to the Assembly, the minister confirmed his proposal for Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to withdraw from the SORPI (Statement of Regulatory Principles and Intent) administrative arrangement with NI Water established in 2007 which “constrains regulatory enforcement action”.
Minister Muir said: “Back in 2007, it was recognised that there was a deficit in the inherited wastewater infrastructure that would take some time to upgrade over a series of price control periods.
“We are now nearly 20 years on and there remains an unacceptable level of wastewater pollution.
“It is my view that withdrawal from SORPI will deliver regulatory parity, with NI Water regulated on the same basis as all other industries, including agriculture.”
He also announced he will bring forward a “Fisheries and Water Environment Bill in May 2026, modernising enforcement powers, adopting an ecosystem‑based approach, increasing the maximum fine for water pollution to £50,000 and introducing fixed penalty notices”.
