Belfast's Victorian sewage works served as the backdrop for a look into the past this month as NI Water opened the doors of its historic Wastewater Heritage Centre to visitors.

The events formed part of Live Here Love Here's Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds campaign. Supported by Belfast Harbour, the campaign celebrates the connection between the health of oceans and waterways and personal wellbeing.

During the tours at NI Water's treatment works on the Duncrue Industrial Estate, members of the education team guided guests through the city's 19th-century wastewater infrastructure before explaining the modern treatment processes used today to protect Northern Ireland's marine environment.

Visitors were given a behind-the-scenes look at how used water is cleaned and returned to the natural water cycle. The sessions highlighted simple environmental protection steps, emphasizing the importance of only flushing the "three Ps" — Pee, Poo, and Paper — and binning fats, oils, and grease to avoid sewer blockages. Now in its sixth year, the Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds campaign runs throughout August to encourage people to explore local blue spaces for mental and physical health benefits. The monthly programme includes water sports, wildlife experiences, mindfulness sessions, and educational events.

Anna Killen, Education Officer at NI Water, said: "We were delighted to take part in this year's Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds programme and welcome visitors to our Wastewater Heritage Centre.

"The Wastewater Heritage Centre provides a unique opportunity to step back in time and explore how Belfast's Victorian engineers helped transform public health, while also learning about the modern processes that continue to safeguard our waterways today.

"Our guests followed the journey that water takes from taps and toilets back into the natural water cycle and found out about the essential role wastewater treatment plays in protecting rivers, lakes and the sea. From exploring the city's original Victorian sewage treatment works to discovering the cutting-edge processes that protect our waterways today, our events offered a fascinating journey through more than a century of wastewater innovation."

Schools and interested groups seeking to visit the Belfast Wastewater Heritage Centre can request tours by contacting education@niwater.com.