NI Water says it not to blame for ‘foul smell and swarms of flies’ in Warrenpoint

A Northern Ireland Water chief says he is “confident” his company is not responsible for a mysterious bad odour in south Down.

People in Warrenpoint reported a foul smell and swarms of flies during an extended period of 2023, which has led to an investigation by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC).

Warrenpoint Harbour Authority (WHA) recently provided an independent report to the local authority.

However, a number of elected reps have raised concerns over NIW’s waste water treatment works located just a mile away from the harbour on the Mound Road.

At a special council meeting this week, NI Water’s director of finance, regulation and commercial, Ronan Larkin addressed the issue, saying: “It is a brand new modern plant and recently councillors had a meeting about Warrenpoint and some issues with odour and some questions were asked, could it possibly be coming from our discharge from that plant? We think not.

“There has been some correspondence from the council CEO Marie Ward and NIW has written back to the council and is inviting the council to come and visit the site and show you how it operates.

“You will see how this brand new, modern efficient plant working to the benefit of the environment as well as our customers.

“So, we will be delighted if councillors want to take up that invitation.”

However, the chamber heard from NIW that Northern Ireland was behind the rest of the UK when it came to technology to record the length of time and accurate amounts of discharge into waterways.

Earlier this month on April 15, NIW Limited pleaded guilty, was convicted and fined £250 at Newry magistrates’ court for breaching one condition of its Discharge Consent.

The court heard that on 27 July 2021, NIEA Water Quality Inspectors (WQIs) responded to an incident impacting the Upper Bann River in the Huntly area of Banbridge, where they detected the smell of sewage.

Crotlieve SDLP Councillor Declan McAteer raised doubts over the NIW’s assurances.

He said: “Can I ask that you give special and urgent attention to putting in monitors to record and measure the amount, time and volume of sewage that has gone into the likes of Carlingford Lough.

“Because, the independent report commissioned by the WHA, just a few weeks ago, stated that it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume that your (NIW) activity contributed to some of the odour in the area.

“NIW subsequently worked on a problem sewer in the middle of Warrenpoint, and correspondence suggested, and this is from our own council’s environmental paper, that there may be a connection between the alleged odour and planned remedial works.

“I know that you don’t believe you contributed to it at all, but there seems to be some doubt in that.”

Mr Larkin responded, suggesting the council point the finger of blame elsewhere.

He said: “On Warrenpoint harbour discharges, the first thing I would say, is that sewage smells, it is sewage after all and does have a certain whiff to it, no question, that’s just the nature of sewage.

“However, if it gets to the point that it is in your house or garden that’s the kind of worst problem anyone can ever have. And any time that happens with us, we have a deep affinity with the householder or business that is flooded, because that is an awful situation to be in.

“The thought of that happening in your home, is terrible. But when you come round to a treatment works, actually the smell of the plant is not at all offensive.

“We are pretty confident that the odour issues that were being described at Warrenpoint Harbour, are not coming off the Mound Road and the discharge points.

“I’m very confident that might be a different thing, but I’m not going to get into that tonight.

“I would appreciate your (NMDDC) support for an investment in a duration monitoring programme, because we want to know what discharges, when and for how long.”