Northern Area Plan 2016
Strategic Plan Framework: Public Services and Utilities Drainage

DARD Rivers Agency is the statutory drainage and flood protection authority and will be consulted on applications for development that may affect watercourses and floodplains. Rivers and watercourse management is the responsibility of the Rivers Agency.

In accordance with government policy, DARD is committed to the introduction of procedures for the recovery of developer contributions towards the costs of drainage infrastructure improvement work. For those sites where necessary infrastructure improvements are not viable, Rivers Agency will not consent to any additional run-off beyond existing rates. Developers are recommended to consult with Rivers Agency and the Water Service of the Department for Regional Development at an early stage prior to submission of a planning application, to ensure an acceptable means of storm water drainage.

Maintaining or enhancing the water quality of coastal waters, rivers, lakes, ponds and groundwater resources is crucial to sustaining biodiversity, ensuring human health, and providing for a range of uses including industry, recreation and agriculture. It is important that development does not pose a risk to the quantity, quality and availability of surface and groundwater resources.

A number of waste-water treatment works and sewerage systems serving settlements in the Plan area are currently overloaded or may become overloaded during the lifetime of the Plan. Some of these works are due for upgrading or replacement within the Water Service capital works programme. To avoid unacceptable environmental impact, and to ensure compliance with relevant EC Directives, development within these settlements may have to be phased in line with provision of infrastructure improvements.

Traditional practice for the disposal of surface water involves channelling the water away to the nearest watercourse to promote rapid run-off. This approach can lead to an increased risk of flooding down-stream, reduced groundwater recharge and the transmission of pollutants to watercourses. A more up-to-date, sustainable practice involves controlling surface water as close to its point of fall as possible. This approach can minimise adverse environmental impacts and also enhance biodiversity and the aesthetic quality of developments. This technique is known as ‘source control’, and it incorporates the principles of ‘Best Management Practices (BMP) for Surface Water Disposal’. BMP techniques include the use of swales, soakage lagoons, reed beds, retention ponds and permeable paving under the general heading of ‘Sustainable Drainage Systems’ (SUDS). These techniques can be used as both an alternative to, and in conjunction with, traditional piped drainage systems. Where feasible, the Department will expect development proposals to incorporate BMP principles. In cases where this is not possible, the developer will need to demonstrate that the inclusion of BMP techniques is not appropriate and identify an acceptable alternative method of surface water disposal.