Northern Ireland Water Ltd (NIW) was fined £1,000 plus court costs of £28 at Newtownards Magistrates’ Court today for making a polluting discharge to a waterway.

On 13 January 2009, a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, observed extensive sewage fungus on the bed of a tributary of the Enler River. The source of the polluting discharge was traced to Moneyreagh Wastewater Treatment Works.

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The Inspector re-visited the Treatment Works on 16 January 2009 and observed that the storm tank was full and that untreated sewage was discharging from the outlet overflow weir. The overflow was occurring during dry weather.

On 11 March 2009 the Inspector again visited the Treatment Works and observed that the storm tank was full and there was an overflow to the waterway.

A further visit was made on 17 April 2009 when it was observed that the storm tank was full and overflowing to the waterway.

A sample taken on 16 January 2009 confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.

(GK/KMcA)