en.Wedoany.com Reported - Northern Ireland Water (NI Water) is continuing to advance a multi-million pound rainwater and sewage separation plan aimed at reducing the risk of sewage overflows, improving environmental performance, and creating additional capacity in the sewer network to support local new housing and economic growth.
Over the past three years, the company has invested £5 million in rainwater and sewage separation projects in collaboration with framework partners Atkins Réalis, AG Wilson Civil Engineering, and CivCo. The work includes conducting surveys to assess and identify priority separation areas within the combined sewer network to maximize benefits, followed by the installation of new rainwater infrastructure.
Robert McLean, Senior Project Manager at Northern Ireland Water, stated that this long-term investment helps modernize sewage infrastructure in constrained areas, creating additional capacity to support sustainable development while enhancing the resilience of local communities during heavy rainfall. The company's sewer network, serving residents and businesses across Northern Ireland, is predominantly a combined system, meaning rainwater from eaves gutters, downpipes, and gullies is collected into the same pipe and conveyed to wastewater treatment plants for purification before being safely returned to the environment. Rainwater does not require treatment, so separating it from the combined network not only improves the company's operational efficiency but also, in some cases, unlocks potential for development and economic growth.
The rainwater and sewage separation plan is being implemented in phases, with extensive surveys conducted in the early stages, including CCTV inspections and detailed assessments of existing drainage systems, to identify and address historical misconnections before construction begins, ensuring that only genuine rainwater is separated, thereby maximizing environmental and operational benefits.
Since the plan's launch in 2023, Northern Ireland Water has separated over 166,000 square meters of surface water drainage from the combined sewer network, significantly reducing pressure on existing sewage infrastructure and creating additional capacity for approximately 600 new homes across Northern Ireland.
Robert McLean also noted that despite the short-term impacts of installing dedicated rainwater infrastructure, communities in areas such as Derry/Londonderry, Newry, Ballymena, Portadown, Belfast, Newtownabbey, Antrim, and Coleraine have already benefited from the plan, including enhanced sewer network resilience, better environmental protection, and increased capacity. This ongoing investment reflects the company's commitment to advancing critical infrastructure improvements to support local communities, protect the environment, and drive long-term regional development across Northern Ireland.
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