NI Water has outlined the scale of investment challenges facing water and wastewater infrastructure during a presentation to Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.

At the meeting, a Dr Steve Blockwell, Head of Investment Management at NI Water, highlighted essential projects underway across the Council, alongside the significant funding challenges impacting delivery of upgrades needed to support housing, economic growth and environmental protection.

Dr Blockwell provided councillors with an overview of NI Water’s operational footprint in the Council, its ageing asset base, and the pressures on the wastewater network, explaining:

“Across Northern Ireland, the wastewater system is under severe pressure. Years of under investment mean many assets are now operating beyond their intended capacity, and this Council is no exception.

“Without long-term, sustainable capital investment, we can only maintain existing assets and keep essential services running. That leaves very limited scope for upgrades – and the consequences are restrictions on development, increased pollution risk and worsening pressure on the environment.”

Despite the challenges, several key investment schemes are progressing across the Council area, including:

• Mill Road Storm Overflow (£6.36m) – completion due Summer 2027
• Knockbracken Storm Overflow (£6.4m) – completing 2026/27
• Kinnegar Drainage Area Dundonald Phase 2 – improvements to multiple network sites
• Waringfield WwPS upgrade (£2.2m) – completed 2025
• Dromara WwTW – £800k essential base maintenance
• Lisburn West WwTW – £9.6m maintenance and electrical upgrades

NI Water also updated councillors on progress with water projects, including:

• Manse Road, Carryduff Watermain (£1.2m) – supporting 350 new homes and improving water pressures
• Aghalislone Water Pumping Station to Boomers Service Reservoir Trunk Watermain Replacement (£1m) – replacing the existing pumping main with a problematic burst history.
• Granular Activated Carbon Media Replacement at Castor Bay WTW to remove taste and odour compounds that often accompany algal blooms.

Emphasing NI Water’s commitment to working collaboratively with councils, planners and developers Dr. Blockwell said:

“Northern Ireland needs a permanent, sustainable funding solution for its water and wastewater infrastructure. Short-term injections of surplus funds may help individual projects progress, but they are not a viable long-term solution for essential public services.

“We recognise the impact that these constraints are having on housing delivery and economic development. We are looking at innovative solutions to remove unwanted water and working with local traders to address network and treatment capacity issues in the Lisburn area. Furthermore, our teams continue to work closely with the Council and with developers to find interim solutions where possible. But the reality is that many locations will require major capital upgrades before growth can proceed.”