Magheratimpany Sewage Pumping Station Pollution Incident

07 September 2011 16:36

NI Water can confirm it was fined today for a pollution incident from Magheratimpany Sewage Pumping Station on 15th June 2009 to the Ballynahinch River.

A spokesperson said:

"The incident at Magheratimpany Sewage Pumping Station occurred when the duty pump failed and the stand by pump did not activate. NI Water was alerted at 12:00 hrs and by 13:14 hrs the discharge had ceased and staff had the pumps operational again.

"NI Water treats any issue of pollution extremely seriously and has taken steps to ensure a similar incident at Magheratimpany Sewage Pumping Station does not happen again. This incident was a low environmental impact as no fish were killed.

NI Water was fined £300. Throughout the process, NI Water cooperated fully with NIEA.

NI Water views the protection of the environment as a major priority and invests significant resources and measures to safeguard it. NI Water is the only public body in Northern Ireland to have earned International ISO 14001 status, an international standardisation awarded on the basis of a company’s environmental management system.

NI Water has invested nearly £500 million over the last three years to bring the sewerage network system and wastewater treatment works up to an acceptable standard. With ongoing investment, we will continue to improve wastewater services for the people of Northern Ireland.