Roles and Responsibilities

Water Management Unit (WMU), within the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), under the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, has a duty to promote the conservation of the water resources of Northern Ireland and the cleanliness of water in waterways and underground strata. In performing this duty, NIEA is required to have regard to the needs of industry and agriculture, the protection of fisheries, the protection of public health, the preservation of amenity and the conservation of flora and fauna. The Water Order repealed and re-enacted with amendments the Water Act (Northern Ireland) 1972. The water quality provisions of the Order came into effect on 24 August 2001.

The WMU protects the aquatic environment through a variety of activities including:

• monitoring water quality
• preparing water quality management plans
• controlling effluent discharges
• taking action to combat or minimise the effects of pollution
• supporting environmental research
• coordinating production of draft River Basin Management Plans with partners.