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Northern Ireland’s water and sewerage services are currently being reformed. 

The introduction of direct domestic charges for water and sewerage services has been deferred until 8 May 2007. This is the date that the new Assembly is due to first sit at Stormont and Northern Ireland politicians will take control of how water and sewerage services are to be paid for in the future.

Other aspects of the Government's reform of water and sewerage services did go ahead on 1 April 2007. The new Government owned company (Go-Co) Northern Ireland Water Limited replaced Northern Ireland Water Service, and the Consumer Council took its legal responsibility to represent the interests of water consumers in Northern Ireland.

Until a decision is made on the future of water charges the information below remains correct for the original proposals.

Domestic Water Charges

Under the original scheme all households will have to pay directly for water and sewerage services. Domestic bills will be made up of a fixed charge and a variable charge. The average householder in Northern Ireland can expect to pay £334 per year if they are connected to both mains water and the mains sewer. For further information, log onto: www.waterreformni.gov.uk.

Vulnerable consumers in receipt of certain benefits will be eligible for an Affordability Tariff. These consumer groups will be protected under this unique £30 million scheme. The scheme is Government funded and so other consumers will not fund this through higher bills.

This unprecedented protection package aims to stop water poverty before it starts. It will ensure that the 175,000 "at risk" households in Northern Ireland pay no more than three per cent of their income on water bills irrespective of the value of the property in which they live.

Non Domestic Water Charges

Charges for the non-domestic sector will continue to be consistent with the principle that the polluter pays.  The domestic allowance, for non-domestic users, will be phased out and the introduction of sewerage charges will see an increase in charges for most businesses.  Unmetered customers will pay both a standing charge and a variable charge based on the rateable value of their business premises for water and sewerage services.  All metered non-domestic customers will also pay sewerage charges on the basis of their metered water volume.  More details about what these new water and sewerages charges mean for businesses can be found on the Water Reform Unit’s website,http://www.waterreformni.gov.uk

The Consumer Council’s position

The Consumer Council has been consistent in supporting the principle of paying for water and sewerage services.  We acknowledge that high quality public services such as health and education and improved infrastructure for water, sewerage and public transport all come at a cost and there is a need to agree on the best way of funding them now and in the future.

Fair, Affordable and Sustainable

The Consumer Council wants any new water and sewerage charge to be fair, affordable and sustainable so that we have a fair and equitable system, which protects the most vulnerable in society, doesn't pass on the entire burden to consumers who can afford to pay and encourages us all to use our water wisely. 

Consumer Council’s involvement in Water Reform

The Consumer Council has been heavily involved in Water Reform undertaking consumer research in 2002 and 2004 which informed our responses to the 2003 and 2005 consultations.  We have also published an  information paper (Paying for Water) in 2003 and an analysis paper on alternative proposals for Water Reform called Water – A Clear Way Forward in 2004.  In 2005 we submitted a substantive response to the Integrated Impact Assessment on Water Reform.

We were instrumental in bringing together a panel of social partners, like-minded organisations who shared our fundamental policy positions, and this forum was a key driver in calling for a one-year delay to the introduction of the new, direct water and sewerage charge.  The forum also secured significant change in protection for vulnerable consumers and the ultimate design and adoption of the affordability tariff.

We continue to inform and influence the debate and deliver information to the public in an easy to understand way.