Waste water fine imposed at Islandmagee

Faulty pumps in the Ros-Na-Rig facility were blamed for August 27 incident.

Angela Halpenny, head of environmental regulation for NI Water, explained: “NI Water had recently adopted the pumping station from a private contractor. Upon notification of the incident, NI Water attended the site promptly and discovered mechanical and electrical faults with the pumps. The faults were swiftly repaired, after which the overflow stopped.”

She indicated that NI Water had cooperated fully with the NI Environment Agency during the subsequent clean-up and investigation and has since increased inspections of the site to twice weekly.

NI Water, which was fined £300 for the overflow incident, says it “views the protection of the environment as a major priority and invests significant resources and measures to safeguard it”

The government company added: “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 millions over the years to bring the sewerage network system and wastewater treatment works up to an acceptable standard.”