Northern Ireland Water Limited (NIW) pleaded guilty to two charges of making polluting discharges and was fined a total of £8,000 plus court costs of £31 at Newtownards Magistrates' Court.

On 10 March 2011, a Water Quality Inspector acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, observed extensive sewage fungus on the bed of a stream adjacent to the Moneyreagh Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW), Co Down.

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Investigation revealed that the storm tank at the WWTW was full with settled sewage discharging from the outlet overflow weir into the stream.

On 26 March 2011, an Inspector again observed extensive sewage fungus on the bed of the stream adjacent to the works. Further investigations revealed that, similarly to 10 March 2011, settled sewage was discharging from the Storm Tank overflow and entering the same waterway.

NIW was fined £3,000 in respect of the incident which occurred on 10 March 2011 and £5,000 for the incident which occurred on 26 March 2011.

(CD/IT)