Debate contribution: Lough Erne: Pollution

Debate contribution by Mrs Naomi Long on 17 September 2024.

MLA

Mrs Naomi Long

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

17 September 2024

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Adjournment

Heading

Lough Erne: Pollution

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4537493

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank Mrs Erskine, who tabled the Adjournment topic, and all those who participated in the debate.

Unfortunately, due to an inescapable diary clash, my colleague Minister Muir is not available to respond today, so I undertook to do so on his behalf. It may seem slightly strange, but I have a genuine interest in water quality from a previous life; a bit like what Andrew has just described. The difficulties that are being experienced through blue-green algal blooms demonstrate to all of us how powerful our reliance on and connection to the aquatic environment are. Likewise, improvements in water quality will require all of us to limit the pressures that we place on that environment. Last Thursday, Minister Muir visited Lough Erne to see the impacts of blue-green algae. He also took the opportunity to meet Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, and he agreed to work more closely with it on the matter of tackling blue-green algal blooms. Over the past five years, there have been 387 confirmed pollution incidents in the Lough Erne system. Of those, the principal cause of pollution is attributed to agriculture, at around 44% of those incidents, followed by industry at around 16% and then Northern Ireland Water at around 12%. Sources from agriculture have also attributed around 63% of all medium- and high-severity incidents reported in the Lough Erne catchment. Since 2019, there have been 21 confirmed pollution reports associated with Northern Ireland Water assets in the Enniskillen area. All those incidents have been described as low severity. We also know that excess nutrients in the environment cause pollution in our waterways and that the main contributing sources are agriculture and, to a lesser but still significant extent, waste water from treatment works and septic tanks. A scientific report from October 2020, 'Phosphorous Stock and Flows in the Northern Ireland Flood System', which is on the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute website, attributes high nutrient phosphorous levels in Northern Ireland's water bodies to three main sources: around 62% comes from agriculture, 24% from waste water treatment works and 12% from septic tanks. You can see that the breakdown has remained fairly static. We need to do more to reduce the overall phosphorous surplus in the Northern Ireland agriculture system. A review of the nutrient action programme that is under way is also considering associated recommendations from the Lough Neagh action plan. It is envisaged that the outcome of the review will be published in November, along with a consultation on the proposed action programme for the next four years and the strategic environmental assessment report. It is envisaged that all measures in the current action programme will be retained for the next programme. It is also clear from water quality data and scientific evidence that additional measures will be needed. Although the nutrient action plan is long established, we need to ensure that there is full implementation at farm level and improved compliance. It is important that people engage in that, as it is a key tool to deal with water quality issues right across Northern Ireland, including in Lough Erne, and to ensure that the learning that the Department is able to glean from Lough Neagh can then be applied across other bodies of water. Minister Muir is also aware of the concerns about Northern Ireland Water and the arrangements in place that are known as SORPI — the statement of regulatory principles and intent — between the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Northern Ireland Water. Mrs Erskine raised the issue in her contribution. SORPI is under review because the arrangement is not fit for purpose. Minister Muir plans to engage with the Minister for Infrastructure on the issue, and he has already been engaging with his own officials in that regard. He is on record as stating that the situation in which Northern Ireland Water gets, essentially, a bye ball for the pollution of waterways needs to end. Pollution, irrespective of the source, should follow the "polluter pays principle". There needs to be fairness. That speaks very much to what Mrs Erskine said about not demonising any particular sector. We need to acknowledge that we have a water quality problem, but we also need to fund interventions to fix those issues; otherwise, the problems with blue-green algae will continue. Minister Muir has recognised that Northern Ireland's waste water infrastructure has suffered from long-term underfunding and that significant infrastructural improvements are required to meet current and future environmental standards. As I said, although I am acting on behalf of Minister Muir, I understand the challenges in that space. Part of my work for a very long time as an engineer was about looking at the operation of combined sewer overflows. With rainfall patterns changing — rainfall is changing in duration and intensity — storms that were statistically one-in-100-year events now happen multiple times in one year. Whilst the sewage released in the overflows is dilute by design, it nevertheless will build up the nutrient level in the water, if it happens repeatedly. That is a significant issue.

Replacing that infrastructure, however, requires consistent and sustained investment in our water network. We look at how that is funded in the price control period. The waste water reform programme is funded in full for the remainder of the price control period from 2021 to 2027 — PC21, and into the next price control period from 2027 to 2033. If we do not have sustained investment, we will not be able to cope with the changes that are required in our network, and, critically, we will not be able to develop key areas in a safe and environmentally sustainable way. The Department has also launched phase 1 of its blue-green algae small business research initiative (SBRI), which is being driven and developed to explore potential solutions to treat and reduce blue-green algae blooms without impacting the natural environment of Lough Neagh and associated Northern Ireland waterways. The outcome of that initiative will inform mitigation measures that may be transferable to other water bodies across Northern Ireland such as Lough Erne. More fundamental research that complements the SBRI is being commissioned by DAERA from the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, including a project that focuses on in-lake nutrient recovery management options, which is a really important step forward. The main actions from the Lough Neagh action plan also promote a framework that focuses on four key pillars, which could apply equally to Lough Erne. The first is education, which involves empowering people with knowledge and skills and encouraging best practice. The second is investment, incentivisation and innovation aimed at motivating people and through funding actions that will drive the adoption of behavioural change. The third is regulation. The statutory obligation to protect the quality of our water has to be enforced at a statutory level. The final pillar — enforcement — is important. We have to take strong, meaningful action when compliance with the regulations fails. That sequencing reflects the importance of early intervention. We have to start by trying to avoid pollution incidents in the first place and mitigating the impact. Where we do not find that change happening, it is important that we have an enforcement process that is fit for purpose and fair in its approach. It is clear that the Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency will not hesitate to take enforcement action, and it is important that a robust, fair, proportionate and targeted enforcement regime is there to act as a deterrent and to champion the "polluter pays principle". I know that Minister Muir is committed to delivering that. He is working with my officials in the Department of Justice to ensure that it is indeed proportionate. Since Minister Muir's appointment, he has been clear that significant action also needs to be taken to address poor water quality in Northern Ireland generally. The difficulties experienced through blue-green algal blooms demonstrate our reliance on and connection with the aquatic environment. Improvements in water quality will require us all to limit the pressures that we place on that environment. They will also help us combat the risks of pollution and future harmful algae blooms. Everyone can play their part in achieving that. DAERA will continue to support and collaborate with all stakeholders and initiatives to reduce nutrient impacts on the water environment, be that in Lough Neagh, Lough Erne or any of our rivers and coastal waters. Leonardo Da Vinci said:

"Water is the driving force of all nature."

Water is not only essential for all living things to survive; access to water, its quality and its management are essential elements of ensuring that people, communities and our economy can thrive. Our rivers, loughs and coastal waterways are vital for drinking, work, sport, recreation and tourism. They need to be carefully and sensitively managed and protected. My colleague is committed to that, and I hope that Members are reassured by the response today.

1,494 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:12 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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