Work involving the pollution risk assessment of 300 businesses was intensified in the wake of two fish kills this year on the Six Mile Water River, the Agency identified twenty sites which posed a high risk of pollution.
Staff issued four Notices to companies, sixteen Pre-Notices and took four sets of statutory samples with a view to prosecution.
Following the statutory samples, two cases were recommended for prosecution, while results have still to be confirmed in the remaining two cases.
Environment Minister Sammy Wilson said:
“Since the two fish kill incidents this year, NIEA staff have intensified their efforts to address the problem of pollution incidents on the river and ensure businesses are fully aware of what is expected of them.
“During the survey of businesses on the site, staff identified a range of potential pollutants on twenty high risk sites including oil, chemicals, cleaning materials and concrete.
“NIEA carried out site investigations and extensive drainage surveys and discussed the seriousness of the risks and the implications for the environment and the companies concerned with site managers.
“The notices and pre-notices issued to companies contained details of the work required to mitigate or stop pollution within a specific time frame.
“Those businesses and other businesses on the industrial estate are under no illusion about what they should do and that we will be checking whether they are complying.”
Mr Wilson again stressed the need for the public to help NIEA eliminate the pollution risk from businesses.
The Minister said: “Just as the police cannot be on every street corner to anticipate a crime, NIEA cannot be on every blade of grass along a river bank or at every drain to anticipate a pollution incident.
“We need members of the public to be our eyes and ears and to work with the Agency in responding quickly to pollution incidents and catching polluters.
“If anyone has information that a company is regularly flouting the law or indeed is responsible for a particular incident they should immediately bring that to the attention of the water pollution team.
“They can do that by phoning the water pollution hotline 0800 807060. Our staff are only too willing to investigate those claims.”
Notes to Editors
- Anyone with information on the June 18 incidents on the Sixmilewater or any other incident in Northern Ireland should contact NIEA’s water pollution hotline on 0800 807060.
- For media inquiries please contact DOE Press Office on 028 9054 0014 or out of office hours contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
