History
Prior to 1973, water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland outside Belfast were the responsibility of local councils. Within the capital, the Belfast Water Commissioners were responsible. The Water Commissioners' building in the city centre is a landmark, currently occupied by retailer Marks and Spencer.
In 1973, responsibility for providing these services was transferred to Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland). Within the Department, a new Water Executive was responsible for the management and administration of water and sewerage services. In 1996, the Water Executive became an executive agency and was rebranded as the Northern Ireland Water Service and, in 1999, responsibility for water transferred to the Department for Regional Development.
In 2005, the Water Service had an annual budget of £302 million and fixed assets of £4.9 billion.
Read more about this topic: Northern Ireland Water
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