Carron Road Sewage Pumping Station Discharge Incident

21 October 2011 15:20

NI Water has pleaded guilty to a breach of a discharge consent following an alarm failure from Carron Road Sewage Pumping Station (SPS), Crossmaglen on 11 September 2009. The incident was linked to a blockage caused by inappropriate items which blocked and damaged a pump.

A spokesperson for NI Water explained,

“Investigation found that a blockage had been caused by a large amount of inappropriate items, which the sewerage system is not designed to cope with.

“Following further investigations into this incident, NI Water also identified areas for improvement in the alarm system used for the site and how this alerts staff to potential problems. These improvements were implemented immediately.

“NI Water would like to ask for the public’s assistance in reducing the risk of pollution incidents by not placing inappropriate items in the toilet, down a drain or into the sewers.

“Inappropriate items include cotton buds, nappies, sanitary items, household wipes and condoms which regularly make their way through the sewerage system and cause serious blockages, leading to the operation of emergency overflows. This can cause harm to property, wildlife and the environment.

“Whilst NI Water has a responsibility for the sewerage system, everyone in Northern Ireland can help reduce these incidents. The advice is simple, only toilet roll and human waste should be flushed down the toilet, for everything else – bin it, don’t flush it.”

NI Water was fined £2,500. Throughout the process, NI Water cooperated fully with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

NI Water views the protection of the environment as a major priority and invests significant resources and measures to safeguard it. NI Water’s environmental record is improving each year, and due to major capital investment, we have achieved the best ever wastewater compliance in 2010.