Northern Ireland Water fined £2,000 for pollution

Northern Ireland Water (NIW) was today fined a total of £2,000 at Bangor Magistrates' Court following a pollution offence at Ballyholme, Bangor.

The prosecution followed the discovery, on 3 August 2007, by an officer from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA,formerly the Environment and Heritage Service), of a polluting discharge into Belfast Lough, close to Ballyholme Beach, Bangor. This pollution was found to be untreated sewage and was traced to a nearby Northern Ireland Water pumping station at Luke’s Point.

Further investigation by NIEA found that NIW had been carrying out maintenance work on the pumping station and had temporarily diverted the sewage flow to a storm tank. This storm tank had, however, overflowed and caused pollution.

Later analysis of samples taken from the site confirmed that the effluent discharged was polluting. NIEA was particularly concerned about this incident as it occurred close to an identified bathing water area.

Northern Ireland Water pleaded guilty in court. The company was fined £2,000 plus court costs of £25.

Notes to Editors:

1. Northern Ireland Water (NIW) was charged with two counts under The Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, as amended by the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. The first charge was that, contrary to Article 7(1)(a) of the Water Order, they discharged a polluting matter so that it entered a waterway. The second charge was that, contrary to Article 7(6) of the Water Order, they contravened the terms of a discharge consent issued by the Department of Environment.

2. Under the first charge above of making a polluting discharge, NIW were fined £750.

3. Under the second charge above of discharging in breach of consent terms, NIW were fined £1,250.

4. The total fines imposed on NIW on both counts amounted to £2,000.

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