Northern Ireland water rates could be answer to sorting ongoing pollution issues
The introduction of water rates in Northern Ireland could be the key to addressing crumbling waste water infrastructure and its impact on waterways, it has been suggested.
But it is facing a “perfect storm” of a crisis caused by pollution, nutrients, climate change and invasive species, according to Gerry Darby, manager of the Lough Neagh Partnership. He said 10 of the actions have already been implemented, including water inspectors and looking to the private sector for innovation, but it will take decades to start to see improvement.
“There is also climate change as well as invasive species in there. It all came together to create a perfect storm and at least the minister has engaged with many organisations to try and find solutions. It will be a long-term solution, nobody has ever suggested that the reduction of nutrients in Lough Neagh is going to happen overnight, it is estimated that it will take somewhere between 10 to 20 years before we’re beginning to see change.
While non-domestic water charges already apply in Northern Ireland, there has been strong political opposition to introducing domestic water charges.
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