Downward trend in number of confirmed water pollution incidents continues

According to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency’s (NIEA) 2008 Water Pollution Incident and Enforcement Statistics, a total of 2,244 water pollution reports were made and investigated during 2008.

Of these, 1,237 reports were confirmed as having an impact on water quality.

NIEA also revealed that there were 47 fewer incidents reported in 2008 than in 2007, and that the overall trend in the number of confirmed incidents reported continued a downward direction since the mid-1990s, although the available data indicates that the trend may now be levelling off.

Pollution incidents are classified by Source (where the pollution originates), Category (the type of pollution identified), Cause (why the incident occurred) and Severity (the environmental impact of the pollution).

The statistics also showed:

• By Source, Farming accounted for the largest number of substantiated incidents investigated by NIEA (26%). This was followed by Northern Ireland Water (22%) and Industry (22%).
• Farming was responsible for the greatest number of High and Medium severity incidents (37%).
• By Category, Sewage (35%), Agriculture (26%) and Oil (16%) continued the trend from 2007, accounting for the largest proportion of pollutant types (77%) in substantiated incidents.

An NIEA spokesperson said: "The statistics published today provide a detailed account of the Agency’s work on this area during 2008".

The spokesperson continued: “NIEA is committed to thoroughly investigating all water pollution incidents."

Notes to editors:

1. The 2008 statistics are available on the NIEA website at. www.ni-environment.gov.uk/water-home/waterpollution/pol_respon.htm.

2. The NIEA Water Pollution Hotline, 0800 807060, operates on a 24 hours 365 days a year basis.

3. All media enquiries should be directed to the DOE Press Office on 028 9054 0003. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.