NI Water Customers: How to Prepare for a Supply Interruption
Northern Ireland has its own water regulator, its own drinking water quality body, and its own vulnerable-customer register — genuinely different from the Ofwat/DWI rules that apply in England and Wales. Here's what actually applies to you if NI Water supplies your water.
If your NI Water supply is cut off
- Check NI Water's website for known issues in your area first.
- If there's no known fault listed, report it to NI Water directly.
- If you or someone in your household has a serious medical condition requiring a water supply, ask about NI Water's Critical Care Register — their equivalent of the Priority Services Register used in England, Scotland, and Wales, though run separately and under a different name.
- Use stored water in the meantime while NI Water works to restore supply.
Know your number before you need it
Our free calculator works out exactly how much water your household should have on hand, based on who's in it and how many days you want to cover.
Use the emergency water calculator →Compensation — check NI Water's own current figures
Northern Ireland has its own guaranteed standards of service, set by the Utility Regulator rather than Ofwat. We haven't been able to confirm the specific current payment amounts that apply to domestic water supply interruptions in Northern Ireland with the same confidence as the England and Wales figures, since these are published and administered separately. Rather than state a figure that might not be current or correct, check NI Water's own published customer standards, or contact the Utility Regulator directly, for what currently applies.
If you receive a boil water notice
Follow NI Water's specific instructions for your incident. The general principle — bringing water to a rolling boil, then letting it cool before use — is standard practice, but always defer to what NI Water and the Northern Ireland DWI actually tell you for your specific situation, since it's a different regulator to the one that issues England and Wales guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Does Ofwat regulate NI Water?
No. Water and sewerage in Northern Ireland is regulated by the Utility Regulator (the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation), not Ofwat. Drinking water quality is regulated by a Drinking Water Inspectorate unit within the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) — a separate body from the DWI that covers England and Wales.
What should I do if my NI Water supply is cut off?
Check NI Water's website for known issues in your area. If there's no known fault listed, report it directly. If you or someone in your household relies on a water supply for medical reasons, ask NI Water about their Critical Care Register, which is separate from the Priority Services Register used in England, Scotland, and Wales.
Can I claim compensation from NI Water for a supply interruption?
Possibly, under guaranteed standards of service set by the Utility Regulator for Northern Ireland, which are separate from the Ofwat-administered scheme used in England and Wales. Check NI Water's own published customer standards for the current conditions and payment amounts that apply.
- NI Water — Regulators — confirms the Utility Regulator and NIEA structure for Northern Ireland.
- Utility Regulator (Northern Ireland) — for current guaranteed standards and compensation figures.