Designation requirement

With the exception of emergency works, drainage works can only be carried out at public expense on watercourses ‘designated’ under the Drainage (Northern Ireland) Order 1973. Designation is authorised by the Drainage Council for Northern Ireland, an independent body which has responsibility for overseeing the programme of publicly-funded drainage and flood defence schemes in Northern Ireland. The criteria for designation are that the benefits to society from any improvement works should exceed the cost of the works, and that the required works cannot reasonably be undertaken by landowners.