AQW 31738/22-27 Written question to the Minister for Infrastructure
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to outline (i) the steps her Department is taking to ensure full monitoring of all Combined Sewage Overflows across Northern Ireland; and (ii) the timeframe within which this will be achieved.
Asked by Paula Bradshaw MLA on 22 September 2025
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 22 September 2025
- Answer due by
- 7 October 2025
- Answered
- 3 October 202511 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Infrastructure
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The management of public wastewater infrastructure is an operational matter for NI Water. However, I have sought the requested information from NI Water and have been advised as follows:
To monitor and record spills from combined sewer overflows, Event Duration Monitors (EDMs) are being installed across NI Water’s wastewater network over a multi-year investment programme. These EDMs measure the times when a spill is occurring and for how long it lasts. NI Water is taking a phased approach to EDM installation, as agreed with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). NI Water’s initial focus has been to install EDMs on overflows which spill into the north’s 26 designated bathing waters. More recently, NI Water has extended coverage of EDMs to storm overflows that spill into waterbodies which support shellfish growth / production and other sensitive inland waterbodies and rivers.
As of September 2025, NI Water has approximately 655 EDMs installed and sufficiently verified to support effective use for operational maintenance and monitoring. Of these, 222 EDMs have been fully quality assured for both operational maintenance and release of spill count data to the public, via NI Water’s storm overflow webpage (NI Water's Storm Overflows).
By the end of Price Control 21 (31 March 2028), NI Water aims to have approximately 40% of its 2,430 storm overflows fitted with EDMs. This ongoing programme of installation of EDMs will continue into Price Control 28 (2028-2034) subject to funding.
For any future queries relating to operational matters, you should contact NI Water directly, through the Elected Representatives Hotline on 0345 300 6461 or through waterline@niwater.com
Making direct contact with NI Water will ensure that you receive the information in the shortest possible timeframe and make best use of limited public resources.