Stormont Infrastructure Minister Conor Murphy has launched a consultation on the future direction for water and sewerage services.

The Minister said the consultation covers 2010 to 2013, and focuses on improving services to customers, promoting sustainability, making NI Water more efficient and meeting environmental obligations.

"The draft guidance I am issuing has been developed with statutory partners and benefited from extensive customer research carried out by the Consumer Council, telling us what customers want," he said.

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Mr Murphy said the Executive had already made significant investment in our water and sewerage services through its Investment Strategy.

Adding Northern Ireland now has the highest drinking water quality it has ever had and waste water treatment standards continue to improve.

"I want to continue these improvements by delivering on existing commitments. But we need to target customers' concerns in critical areas such as flooding from sewers and interruptions to water supply, so that we get the best value for the huge investment we are making," said Mr Murphy.

The Minister said he hoped people would respond to the consultation and tell the department what they think is important.

"I know people will be concerned about paying for water but this consultation is not about that. The future funding arrangements for water and sewerage services is an Executive decision which we will be consulting on separately," he added.

The draft Guidance has been published for a ten week consultation period, ending on 8 May 2009.

(PR/JM)