NI Water has been fined £1,200 at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court after untreated sewage was found to be discharging into a Co Armagh waterway.
The charge relates to a pollution offence at Milltown Road Waste Water Pumping Station (WWPS),Waringstown.
On 2 January 2013, a Water Quality Inspector (WQI), acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, inspected the Waringstown Stream upstream of its confluence with the River Lagan at Milltown Road, Waringstown. A discharge was observed from Milltown Road Waste Water Pumping station. The stream was visibly discoloured, and there was fungal growth on the bed of the River Lagan.
Untreated sewage was found to be discharging from the Milltown Road WWPS to the affected waterway. NIW admitted under caution that the discharge occurred due to the failure of two pumps to start. The malfunction of both pumps failed to create any telemetry alarm to alert management of the failure.
NI Water was also ordered to pay court costs of £28 and a £15 offenders levy.
