TWO STORMONT DEPARTMENTS and Northern Ireland’s utility regulator are being investigated over untreated sewage discharges into Belfast Lough.

The UK’s environment watchdog, the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), today launched a probe into whether the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and Regulator (DAERA) have “failed to comply with environmental law”.

It comes just a year after this reporter exposed how decades of sewage underfunding meant pollution flows into Belfast Lough ‘every time it rains’ because of creaking wastewater systems that have run out of capacity. 

A grim future of bacteria-infested beaches, stagnating swimming waters, contaminated rivers and septic wildlife lagoons were first laid bare in a report by an NI Water official. 

Yet despite the issues highlighted, then-Minister for Infrastruture John O’Dowd scrapped the programme that was approved to tackle the problems in 2021.

The Sinn Féin politician’s 2024 decision meant major projects to upgrade waste water treatment works and combined sewer overflows around Belfast Lough were mothballed.

Now the UK Office for Environmental Protection aims to “determine” if DfI, DAERA and the Utility Regulator “failed to comply with environmental law in their respective duties of regulating how untreated wastewater, that includes raw sewage, is discharged into Belfast Lough and its surrounding rivers”.

‘Pressing environmental challenge’

OEP Chief Executive, Natalie Prosser, said: “The quality of our water is one of the most pressing environmental challenges we face.”

The watchdog will examine the regulation of discharges of untreated sewage from waste water treatment works, which are designed to treat raw sewage and make it safe to be returned to the environment, as well as combined sewer overflows.

The latter, of which NI has an unusually high number, release untreated wastewater when sewage systems reach capacity during storms and heavy rain to stop it backing up into homes, streets and businesses.

Data on discharges is limited, with no storm overflows fitted with meters “to record the volume of spills” according to NI Water.

Prosser added: “Nature is under unsustainable pressure in Northern Ireland, and one of the biggest issues is how wastewater is managed.

“Although our investigation will focus on Belfast Lough, we know similar wastewater and sewage issues exist at other rivers and lakes. Our interest is in driving improvement across the wider regulatory system.”

A Utility Regulator spokesperson said it “is fully committed to transparent and robust economic regulation of Northern Ireland’s water and sewerage industry” and “will engage fully”.
DAERA Minister, Andrew Muir, said the OEP’s intervention is “sadly not unexpected”.

“I have previously warned of the immense and unsustainable pressure being put on Belfast Lough as a result of decades of pollution.

“I support and value the important, independent oversight provided by the Office for Environmental Protection. My Departmental officials will cooperate fully.”

He added that an arrangement [the Statement of Regulatory Principles and Intent/SORPI] that allows NI Water to avoid prosecution for pollution “needs to change” and that the “proposed way forward will be brought forward in the coming weeks”.

“Additionally, I am bringing forward new legislation to strengthen fines and penalties for water pollution offences through my Fisheries and Water Environment Bill.”

A spokesperson for NI Water said while it is not the subject of this investigation, they are committed to full cooperation.

“NI Water has consistently highlighted the urgent need for sustained investment in wastewater infrastructure to address long-standing challenges across Northern Ireland,” they added.

“The Living With Water programme, which aimed to address many of these issues, was paused due to funding constraints.”

The Department of Infrastructure was also contacted for comment.