Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for Infrastructure, following the Speaker’s Ruling on Assembly Questions on 12 March 2024, and pursuant to AQW 12788/22-27, to detail (i) the membership of the focus group; (ii) how many times it has met; (iii) what plans it has identified that can be put in place by summer 2024; (iv) what longer-term actions it has identified; and (v) how its outcomes are to be assessed.
Minister for Infrastructure: This issue is an operational matter for NI Water; however, my officials sought the requested information from NI Water and I can advise:
The focus group is made up of two Directors and twelve senior managers from many key disciplines, including water supply and production engineers, wastewater engineers, drinking water quality scientists, wastewater and environmental regulation scientists, emergency planning, operational resilience, communications and stakeholder management, intelligent operations, water asset strategy engineers and customer experience managers.
The group has as met a total of 13 times (up to 25 June 2024).
Focused plans identified for Summer 2024 include reviewing Lough Neagh water treatment works maintenance and filter replacement, installation of barriers and screens, programming 2024 sampling and analysis, procuring algae analysis equipment and developing triggers for algal compounds, consideration of opportunities to rezone supply areas to draw less water from Lough Neagh, proactive engagement with stakeholders, customers and elected representatives, an increased understanding of its impact on the Lough environment and developing associated strategy and contingency plans.
Longer term plans identified included additional water quality and environmental drainage modelling, delivery of water and wastewater asset improvements, further filter and screen replacement and further review of Lough Neagh water dependency options.
Any outcomes will be assessed based either on delivery by a planned date, or achievement of the expected effects/changes.
I hope you find the above response from NI Water helpful. I would recommend for any future queries relating to operational matters, to contact NI Water directly, through the Elected Representatives Hotline on 0345 300 6461 or through waterline@niwater.com.
Making direct contact with NI Water will ensure that you receive the information in the shortest possible timeframe and make best use of limited public resources.
ENDS
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