Meenbog landslide impact on Derg Water Treatment Works

17 November 2020 10:32

NI Water has issued assurances the Derg Water Treatment Works continues to produce high quality drinking water. 

NI Water’s number one priority is the quality and safety of the drinking water we provide. As such, our water treatment procedures allow us time to react to any threat to the raw water supply while we bring on line other water sources.     

Maynard Cousley, Senior Water Supply Manager, NI Water commented:

“NI Water staff were able to react swiftly to this incident and protect the Works from the incoming polluted water.  We have a number of measures available to us in an incident such as this, including taking water from the Strule River to feed the Derg Water Treatment Works.  Our staff worked hard behind the scenes over the weekend to protect the works and ensure the water supply to the catchment area was not impacted.  We will continue with our alternative arrangements and enhanced monitoring until we are confident we can bring the Derg River back into supply. 

“We should not underestimate the seriousness of this pollution incident and the devastating impact it is having on the rivers.  It is extremely disappointing for a number of stakeholders and the local community who have all been working hard to improve and protect the water quality in the area.”

ENDS

NI Water has a robust testing and sampling system which sees over 120,000 samples lifted and analysed each year. Sampling and analysis is carried out 365 days per year. Samples are analysed by a team of scientists based in laboratories in Belfast and Altnagelvin, providing NI Water with its own in-house scientific expertise and knowledge.

For further details please contact press.office@niwater.com