Wastewater systems in Fermanagh reach breaking point

“There is a crisis regarding our wastewater systems and our ability to be able to stop the pollution incidents and fund the necessary capital works to build more capacity in the system,” said Democratic Unionist MLA Deborah Erskine. “It might not alarm too many people because they take it for granted that when they wake up in the morning the water comes out of the tap clean. However, the picture behind the scenes is much more grim.

The affected areas span a wide swath of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, including Florencecourt, Teemore, Augher, Ederney, Castle Archdale, Clogher, Newtownbutler, Drumbeg, Belleek, Fivemiletown, Irvinestown, Aughnacloy, Eglish, Moy and Dungannon. In West and Mid Tyrone, the areas include: Clady, Drumquin, Lough Macrory South, Beragh and Gortin.

Each of these communities is now facing the harsh reality that any new housing or business developments could be severely limited or outright halted due to the inability of wastewater treatment works (WwTW) to handle additional capacity.

At the heart of the issue is Northern Ireland Water’s admission that it can no longer support new developments without significant upgrades to its systems. This crisis, however, is not confined to Fermanagh and South Tyrone alone; it is symptomatic of a broader, more pervasive problem across Northern Ireland. Historic underinvestment in wastewater and sewerage infrastructure has left many treatment works across the region teetering on the brink of collapse, a situation that could have dire consequences for both local economies and the environment.

For example, the Belleek WwTW, which serves a population equivalent of 1,548, is now near or at capacity. This limits its ability to support new residential or commercial developments without risking overloading the system. Similarly, the Enniskillen WwTW, one of the major hubs in the region, serves a population equivalent of 15,413 but is also at or near capacity. This means it could struggle to accommodate any significant population growth or new infrastructure without substantial upgrades.

In Ederney, where the WwTW serves 1,346 people, and in Garrison South, which has a population equivalent of just 419, the situation is equally dire. These smaller treatment works are already operating near their limits, and any increase in local population or development could quickly overwhelm the existing infrastructure. Irvinestown, serving 2,393 people, is another critical area where development could be delayed or prevented due to capacity constraints.

Mrs. Erskine, the chairwoman of the Infrastructure Committee, has repeatedly raised these issues at Stormont, stressing the urgent need for investment in wastewater infrastructure across Northern Ireland.

She told this newspaper: “In Northern Ireland, we have more overflows per head of population, and per kilometre of pipe, than is the case in the rest of the UK. There is a lot of focus on Lough Neagh and rightly so, but we know that pollution incidents are not confined to there. Lough Erne, the River Blackwater, or elsewhere have all been affected by pollution incidents. Some of this is as a result of storm and sewerage overflows,” she said.

The underlying cause of this crisis is twofold. On one hand, there is a significant shortfall in funding, exacerbated by rising costs for essential capital works. “The reason is down to a lack of funding, which has not been helped by rising costs for essential capital works. We cannot fix, maintain, or build new systems in the way that we need to,” Mrs. Erskine explained. On the other hand, there is a failure to enforce regulations adequately, allowing massive companies to continue polluting waterways without facing strong deterrents. “Another issue is a failure to get a handle on enforcement, which has not acted as a strong deterrent for massive companies adding to pollution in our waterways. Farmers are not always to blame,” she added.

In some cases, NI Water has managed to work with developers to find a ‘no detriment’ solution, allowing for new connections without exacerbating existing capacity issues. However, such solutions are not always possible, and in many instances, the situation has reached a tipping point.

The utility company has reported that, in addition to the 68 areas already identified across Northern Ireland, there are 32 sub-catchments across 23 towns and villages where it can no longer facilitate new connections due to capacity issues in the sewerage network – including Enniskillen and Dungannon. This means that in these areas, no new developments can proceed unless substantial investment is made to upgrade the existing infrastructure.

Mrs. Erskine stressed the implications of this crisis, not just for local communities but for the entire region. “Without funding our wastewater treatment works, it could halt new school builds, new social and affordable housing. Enniskillen and other towns in Fermanagh and South Tyrone will see this affecting them. It will mean our economy will slump with little construction work happening,” she warned.

The need for increased funding and long-term planning has never been more critical. The report by NI Water suggests that addressing these infrastructure deficiencies will require substantial financial investment, potentially running into billions of pounds across Northern Ireland. Without it, the consequences could be catastrophic, not just for the environment but for the future growth and prosperity of communities throughout the region.

“A lot of difficult decisions are in the pipeline which will have to be made in terms of funding to prioritise the essentials. Proper funding for wastewater treatment is a necessity and without it the situation will be catastrophic,” Mrs. Erskine concluded.

As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the necessary resources will be allocated to avert what could be one of Northern Ireland’s most significant infrastructure crises in recent history. For the residents of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, the stakes could not be higher.