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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council will have to apply for a ‘Wastewater Impact Assessment’ for its proposed new offices at the back of Newry Cathedral after NI Water recommended ‘refusal’ of the council’s new headquarters planning application.
In its response to the council plans, the NI Water rejection relates to concerns over ‘significant capacity constraints within the sewerage network’.
There is public sewer ‘within 20m of the proposed development boundary’ and in its submission, NI Water say, “a high-level assessment has indicated potential network capacity issues.”
“This establishes significant risks of detrimental effect to the environment and detrimental impact on existing properties,” continues the submission.
“For this reason, NI Water is recommending connections to the public sewerage system are curtailed.
“The applicant (council) is advised to consult directly with NI Water. The applicant will need to submit an application to NI Water for a Wastewater Impact Assessment. “NI Water will assess the proposal to see if an alternative drainage or treatment solution can be agreed. Subject to successful outcome and subject to re-consultation, NI Water may reconsider its recommendation.”
It also states, “no construction to be made, trees planted, or other obstruction made within 3 metres (or 1.5 times the depth; whichever is greater) of sewers’ and ‘a diversion may be necessary,” and adds, “the applicant is advised to obtain a records map from NI Water and establish the exact location of the infrastructure within the site, and how it may affect the proposal. Further Consultation with NIW Developer Services is required at an early design stage.
“REASON: To prevent disturbance / damage to existing sewers and in the interest of public safety.”
In additional comments NI Water state: “This part of Newry catchment is constrained by a downstream Unsatisfactory Intermittent Discharge (UID) at Newpoint Greenbank TPS. This UID discharges to Newry River watercourse. The above information had been validated, verified and signed-off by our environmental regulator the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). A Wastewater Impact Assessment is required.”
Sewerage capacity concerns
With the sewerage network reaching capacity, concerns around future developments in Newry were previously raised by NI Water at a meeting with councillors at the end of January 2020 and highlighted by then Sinn Féin councillor Roisin Mulgrew and party colleague, Liz Kimmins MLA.
“We knew there were a number of difficulties in Newry but out of all of the towns shown on the map [by NI Water] from Saintfield, Downpatrick, Castlewellan to Crossmaglen, all of those are working to a percentage, but the Newry sewage and wastewater system is pretty much at full capacity,” said Cllr Mulgrew at the time.
“Unless there is major investment in the sewage and wastewater infrastructure in and around Newry, it will have a knock-on effect on future development because it just simply will not be able to feed into the current system, it can’t cope.”
Significant capacity constraints
Contacting NI Water, Newry.ie asked if the sewerage system was still almost at full capacity as per 2020 and had NI Water carried out any work since February 2020 to alleviate the sewerage capacity issue in the city?
“There has been significant historic underinvestment in NI Water for a prolonged period and this has affected the performance of the wastewater assets across the whole of Northern Ireland,” said a NI Water spokesperson.
“NI Water has been investing significantly in sewer network and environmental modelling, as well as instrumentation technologies to establish the regulatory status of CSO (Combined sewer overflow) discharges across Northern Ireland.
“While there is currently remaining capacity at Newry WwTW (Wastewater Treatment Work), there are significant capacity constraints within the sewerage network.
“NI Water has completed the Drainage Area Model (DAP) for Newry and received a Statement of Need from our environmental regulator NIEA (Northern Ireland Environment Agency) outlining the requirements for Capital investment to address capacity and environmental issues.
“The Newry DAP project will now proceed to the design stage which will develop the specific capital works required for upgrading specific UID assets.
“As the detailed designs are completed and costed, they are considered as part of the overall NI Water’s Business planning prioritisation process.
“However, any future capital investment would also be subject to the availability of funding provided to NI Water.
Affordability issues
Asked if the sewerage system near to the proposed offices requires substantial upgrading to cope with the new offices, the spokesperson said the ‘needs and options’ are currently being considered and will require further investigation to identify the specific capital works required to resolve these issues.
“This is likely to require very significant capital investment over several price control periods,” they said.
“Within the current price control period PC21 (2021/22 – 2026/27) NI Water has plans to invest ca: £35m on Phase 1 of an upgrade to Newry WwTW to meet changing environmental consent standards with a further £40m in PC27.
“Work is currently ongoing to identify CSO assets and upgrades requiring capital work to address the UID issues.
“Full funding of PC21 and of future price controls would be essential to the completion of NI Waters plans in conjunction with the Regulators final determination.
“Significant work is required to address the UID associated with Newpoint Terminal Wastewater Pumping Station, which is prior to the Newry WwTW. The needs that have been identified by NIEA to address issues at this location present very significant buildability and affordability issues.”
The council was asked when it intended to carry out the Wastewater Impact Assessment. A spokesperson told Newry.ie that, “This matter is being managed through the planning application process.”
