Northern Ireland Water fined £1000 for pollution offence

Northern Ireland Water Ltd (NIW) was fined £1,000 plus £61 court costs at Antrim Magistrates’ Court today for making a polluting discharge to a waterway

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The prosecution followed the discovery, on 24 December 2007, by a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA, formerly the Environment and Heritage Service) that untreated sewage was discharging to the Sixmile Water from a storm water sewer in Antrim town centre. This was reported to NIW at 15.10 hours on 24 December 2007.

The Water Quality Inspector observed again on the 25 December and 26 December 2007 that untreated sewage was still discharging to the Sixmile Water. This was further reported to NIW on both 25 December and 26 December 2007.

A sample taken on 26 December 2007 confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious and polluting matter which would have been potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.

Northern Ireland Water pleaded guilty in court.

Notes to editors:

1. NIW was charged under Article 7 (1) (a) of the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 with the offence of making a polluting discharge to a waterway.
2. All media enquiries should be directed to the Department of the Environment Press Office on 028 90 540003. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.