Northern Ireland Water (NIW) was fined £2,500 plus court costs of £28 at Downpatrick Magistrates Court today.
NIW pleaded guilty to making a polluting discharge to a waterway from Burren Sewage Pumping Station (SPS), Newcastle, Co Down.
On 24 May 2011, a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, inspected the Burren River adjacent to the Burren SPS, Marguerite Avenue, Newcastle, and observed that the waterway was running cloudy at, and downstream of, the SPS. Sewage related debris was also present. It was subsequently determined that untreated sewage had been discharging from the SPS for a period of some 31 hours.
This high severity pollution incident resulted in a major fishkill downstream of the SPS in the Burren and Shimna Rivers. These are high importance fishery and nursery habitats for salmon and sea trout. Both rivers flow through high amenity value public park areas in central Newcastle. Approximately 400 metres downstream of its confluence with the Burren River, the Shimna River discharges onto Newcastle beach.
A sample taken at the time of the incident confirms that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.
Notes to editors:
1. NIW was charged under Article 7 (1) of the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 with the offence of making a polluting discharge to a waterway.
2. For media enquiries please contact DOE Press Office 028 9025 6058 or out of office hours, contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
NIW pleaded guilty to making a polluting discharge to a waterway from Burren Sewage Pumping Station (SPS), Newcastle, Co Down.
On 24 May 2011, a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, inspected the Burren River adjacent to the Burren SPS, Marguerite Avenue, Newcastle, and observed that the waterway was running cloudy at, and downstream of, the SPS. Sewage related debris was also present. It was subsequently determined that untreated sewage had been discharging from the SPS for a period of some 31 hours.
This high severity pollution incident resulted in a major fishkill downstream of the SPS in the Burren and Shimna Rivers. These are high importance fishery and nursery habitats for salmon and sea trout. Both rivers flow through high amenity value public park areas in central Newcastle. Approximately 400 metres downstream of its confluence with the Burren River, the Shimna River discharges onto Newcastle beach.
A sample taken at the time of the incident confirms that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.
Notes to editors:
1. NIW was charged under Article 7 (1) of the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 with the offence of making a polluting discharge to a waterway.
2. For media enquiries please contact DOE Press Office 028 9025 6058 or out of office hours, contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
Story by DOE
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