To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail any plans for investment in wastewater infrastructure in the Rathfriland area, with a view to resolving the development bans currently in place.

This is an operational matter for NI Water however my officials have sought the relevant information.

NI Water has advised that the Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW) serving Rathfriland is currently operating very close to its design capacity and NI Water is experiencing compliance issues with the Water Order Consent in relation to the discharge to the public sewer. The consequence of this is that there are development constraints within this catchment, and NI Water is currently recommending that connections cannot be approved, as sufficient wastewater treatment capacity is not available at present for any proposed developments.

NI Water has no plans to upgrade Rathfriland WwTW at this point in time, however the treatment works will be included in the business plan for the next regulatory Price Control period, PC28. Any proposed upgrade would be subject to the outcome of the Price Control process in consultation with the regulators, and subject to the availability of sufficient public 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.