NI Water Faces Funding Crisis For Waterside And Strand Road Pumping Stations
Mar 03, 2025
NI Water has confirmed it cleared recent sewer blockages at Coleraine’s Christie Park / Strand Road following public complaints but warned permanent infrastructure upgrades remain stalled due to budget constraints.
NI Water crews and contractors confirmed that they had attended the locations recently, with the latest inspection taking place on 24 February 2025, within 48 hours of our media query confirming that the sewers were "free-flowing" after removing obstructions.
Clean-up operations commenced on 27 February and continued through Friday afternoon.
The utility provider reiterated that blockages are "intermittent" and often caused by unflushable items like wet wipes, urging residents to adhere to the "3 Ps" rule: only pee, poo, and paper should enter the system.
Short-term measures include recent repairs to a damaged chamber at Waterside Street and ongoing sewer rehabilitation, with desilting and CCTV surveys underway in Hanover Place and Castleroe Road.
However, critical upgrades to Strand Road and Waterside wastewater pumping stations—approved under NI Water’s 2021-2027 investment plan—have been paused due to funding shortages.
A spokesperson said the projects are in the design phase but cannot progress without "a successful funding outcome" in the next budget cycle. NI Water is collaborating with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and regulators to prioritise the work, though no timeline exists for delivery.
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