The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has assessed the compliance of Water Utility discharges and has found that sewage discharges are improving.

Stormont Environment Minister, Edwin Poots released the 2009 compliance assessment of discharges made by Northern Ireland Water (NIW), and those companies who carry out waste water treatment under Public Private Partnership contracts (PPP).

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The assessment details Water Utility compliance with NIEA and European discharge standards during 2009 and compares it with the Water Utility compliance since 2005.

Commenting on the assessment Minister Poots said: "There has been a sustained improvement with compliance of discharges from waste water treatment works in Northern Ireland, with compliance increased from 82% in 2005 to 88% in 2009."

Since 1 April 2007, with the transfer of responsibility for delivery of water and sewerage services from the Water Service to a Government owned company, NIW, and its resultant loss of crown immunity, NIEA is now regulating NIW discharges under the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 in the same manner as for any other discharger.

(GK/BMcC)