NI Water’s education team welcomed visitors to a Tour and Talk at its Heritage Wastewater Centre in Belfast in partnership with Live Here Love Here and the Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds 2025 programme last week.

The events were set up by NI Water’s education team to offer an opportunity for the public to learn more about how wastewater is cleaned before it is returned safely to the environment, as well as discovering the journey water takes from source to tap in an ever changing and challenging environment.

Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds, supported by Belfast Harbour, is an initiative that highlights the powerful connection between the health of our oceans and waterways and our own well-being. It encourages people to reconnect with and protect these vital blue spaces, recognising their positive impact on both mental and physical health. Running throughout August, the campaign offered a wide range of free events - from beach cleans and watersports to mindfulness sessions and educational workshops.

At the NI Water Wastewater Heritage Centre, visitors had the opportunity to explore the original Victorian Sewage Treatment Works for Belfast and then discovered the modern wastewater treatment process with a tour of the Belfast Wastewater Treatment Works. They also followed the journey water from taps and toilets takes back to the water cycle. Visitors also heard about the importance of only flushing the three Ps - Pee, Poo and Paper - and also bagging and binning any fat, oil and grease to prevent pipe blockages.

NI Water Education Officer Anna Killen said: “Thanks to all who attended our two events. We were delighted so many visitors enjoyed the demonstrations and tours, learning more about how NI Water safely cleans, tests and checks 605 million litres of drinking water a day, and also about the processes involved in wastewater treatment. It is an expensive process to clean and transport the water we all use daily and the water treatment also uses huge volumes of electricity and energy. The tours around the Belfast Wastewater Treatment Works were also a great opportunity to highlight the importance of the wastewater treatment process in protecting our environment.”

Community groups, businesses and schools can find out more about the free of charge educational visitor experiences NI Water offers via www.niwater.com/education-centres/

Ends 

Media enquiries to the NI Water Press Office via email to press.office@niwater.com