Northern Ireland Water Ltd (NIWL) was fined £500 plus court costs of £28 at Downpatrick Magistrates' Court today for making a polluting discharge to a waterway.

On 31 March 2011 a Water Quality Inspector acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency observed a discharge from the storm water discharge point at Ballynahinch Wastewater Treatment Works. The weather at the time of the incident was dry. A plume of sewage fungus was observed in the waterway for approximately 30 metres.

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A sample taken at the time of the incident confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.

(CD/GK)