NI Water recently held its 4th annual stakeholder forum at the Tollymore National Outdoor Centre, Bryansford near Newcastle. The subject of this year’s forum was Sustainable Catchment Management.

The event attracted a number a wide range of government and non government organisations including DOE, NIEA, Rivers Agency, DRD, Local Councils, the Utility Regulator (NIAUR), Drinking Water Inspectorate, Queens University, the Consumer Council, NIEL, and representatives for environmental solutions providers.

The delegates heard presentations on various aspects of sustainable catchment management with from local non-government organisations; the Mourne Heritage Trust, RSPB, Woodland Trust and Rural Regeneration Ltd. The event was ably chaired by Bryan Homan, the Head of Catchment Operations for United Utilities who set out the experience of sustainable catchment in England.

Speaking at the event NI Water’s Director of Asset Management, George Butler said:

“Sustainable Catchment Management is about working with stakeholders to improve the quality of drinking water coming off our catchments. It is a triple win; it is good for biodiversity, good for carbon reduction and it costs less to treat the water for our consumers.

“This excellent event brings together many of the organisations who work with NI Water to achieve this triple win. What we learned today is that partnerships work to deliver benefits to the all parties.

“NI Water looks forward to working with these partners in the future to deliver these environmental, social and economic benefits”

Key speakers at the event include Seamus Burns from RSPB, Matthew Bushby from the Mourne Heritage Trust, Jackie Morgan from the Woodland Trust, Dr John Gilliland (OBE) from Rural Regeneration Ltd, Paddy Brow and Celine Rodgers from NI Water, Bryan Homan from United Utilities and Ken Bradley from DOE.