How To ObjectOnce again, Quarterlands Road is flooding.
The photographs above were taken recently at the section of road where a new development is proposed. They show extensive standing water along both the carriageway and footpath, despite a clearly visible drain cover that is not blocked. The water is simply not draining away.
This flooding is already happening before any development takes place. That fact is critical when considering what will happen if existing drainage protections are removed.
A drainage problem that already exists
The images show pooling water deep enough to cover the road edge and footpath, creating hazards for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. Reflections of trees and fences disguise the depth, but the extent of standing water is clear.
The drain cover is visible and unobstructed. This strongly suggests the issue is not a blocked gully, but a system that is already operating at or beyond capacity.
In this area, surface water drainage and foul sewage are not fully separate systems. When storm water cannot drain away properly, pressure builds within the combined network.
Storm water and sewage are linked here
Quarterlands Road sits within a drainage catchment where storm water and sewage interact. During heavy or prolonged rainfall, excess surface water can overwhelm the system, increasing the risk of surcharging.
When that happens, water does not simply sit on the surface. It places additional pressure on sewer infrastructure that is already known to be overstretched. This can contribute to foul sewer back ups, overflows and pollution incidents further downstream.
This is why surface water flooding cannot be considered in isolation from sewage capacity in this location.
The role of a soakaway
The role of soakaway, currently performed by the boggy ground the development may replace, helps relieve pressure on the drainage system by allowing rainwater to disperse slowly into the ground and our aquifer rather than entering pipes and sewers all at once.
Removing that soakaway means more water will be directed into an already struggling network. The photographs show that even with the soakaway in place, flooding occurs.
Without it, the volume and frequency of surface water entering the combined system will increase due to run off of hard surfaces.
Likely consequences if the soakaway is removed
If additional storm water is forced into the drainage and sewer network, several outcomes become more likely:
- More frequent and longer lasting surface flooding on Quarterlands Road
- Increased risk of sewer surcharging during heavy rainfall
- Greater pressure on downstream wastewater infrastructure
- Higher risk of pollution incidents affecting local watercourses
These are not abstract risks. They align with issues already documented across Northern Ireland where combined systems struggle during rainfall events.
Planning must reflect how the system actually works
Planning assessments often treat surface water, sewage and flooding as separate issues. On the ground, they are not separate at all.
The flooding visible in these images is a clear sign that the system is already under strain. Removing existing drainage protection without demonstrably increasing capacity elsewhere risks compounding known problems.
Before any further development proceeds, there must be a clear, evidence based explanation of how surface water will be managed without increasing sewage impacts, flooding risk or environmental harm.
At present, the water levels on Quarterlands Road tell a different story.
