Water

In this section you can find information on the Water Management Unit (WMU) and Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI):  

• Water Quality

  Our Water Quality Policy is to maintain or improve the quality of surface and underground waters in Northern Ireland. This requires the general management of rivers, lakes, groundwater, estuarine and coastal waters. It also requires the careful monitoring of bathing waters around the coast.

• Regulation of Discharges

  Under the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, the consent of the Department of Environment is required to discharge any trade or sewage effluent into our waterways or undeground strata. This includes any potentially polluting matter (including site drainage liable to contamination) from commercial, industrial or domestic premises to waterways or underground strata. This section includes details of how to apply for a Discharge Consent for both domestic and industrial discharges.

• Agricultural Regulations

  Our Agriculture Regulations Team deal primarily with Silage Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil (SSAFO), the EC Nitrates Directive, and Groundwater Authorisations. These are the three main aspects of current legislation that affect farmers in Northern Ireland.

• Water Pollution

  We aim to prevent or minimise the effects of water pollution in three ways: pollution prevention, pollution response, and enforcement and prosecution. We provide education to the public and industry because it is an offence to cause pollution, either deliverately or unintentionally. This section includes information on how to report a pollution incident and how action is taken on offenders.

• Drinking Water Inspectorate

  The Drinking Water Inspectorate regulates drinking water quality for public and private supplies, develops policy and guidance on drinking water issues; and deals with incidents that do or could affect drinking water quality in Northern Ireland.