NI Water has pleaded guilty to causing a pollution incident in the Blackstockard River from the Moneyreagh Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW) on 16 January 2009.
A spokesperson for NI Water explained,
“The incident was linked to an underlying problem with capacity to treat all the flows to Moneyreagh WwTW. As such, the works was unable to cope with extra flows received on 16 January. The extra flows caused the storm water storage tanks to fill up and overflow to the Blackstockard River. This is the only way that excess flows can be dealt with due to the limitation on capacity and to avoid flooding elsewhere in the system.
“No fish kill was recorded in this incident and NI Water acted to stop the discharge to the river as soon as possible.
“NI Water is currently examining ways to improve the capacity flows at the works and is in discussions with Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to include this in the new Capital Works Programme.”
NI Water was fined £1000. Throughout the process, NI Water cooperated fully with NIEA.
NI Water views the protection of the environment as a major priority and invests significant resources and measures to safeguard it. Through major capital investment of over £490 million over the last three years in the sewerage network system and wastewater treatment works, NI Water’s environmental record is improving year on year.
With ongoing investment, NI Water will continue to improve wastewater services for the people of Northern Ireland.
A spokesperson for NI Water explained,
“The incident was linked to an underlying problem with capacity to treat all the flows to Moneyreagh WwTW. As such, the works was unable to cope with extra flows received on 16 January. The extra flows caused the storm water storage tanks to fill up and overflow to the Blackstockard River. This is the only way that excess flows can be dealt with due to the limitation on capacity and to avoid flooding elsewhere in the system.
“No fish kill was recorded in this incident and NI Water acted to stop the discharge to the river as soon as possible.
“NI Water is currently examining ways to improve the capacity flows at the works and is in discussions with Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to include this in the new Capital Works Programme.”
NI Water was fined £1000. Throughout the process, NI Water cooperated fully with NIEA.
NI Water views the protection of the environment as a major priority and invests significant resources and measures to safeguard it. Through major capital investment of over £490 million over the last three years in the sewerage network system and wastewater treatment works, NI Water’s environmental record is improving year on year.
With ongoing investment, NI Water will continue to improve wastewater services for the people of Northern Ireland.
