NI Water has been fined £1,000 after pleading guilty to causing a pollution incident from Greysteel Wastewater Treatment Works on 20th November 2008. The incident was linked to a mechanical failure which resulted in equipment, which helped control the flows from the treatment works, failing to work effectively.
This resulted in a restriction of the flows causing a discharge via the storm tank to the water course. NI Water acted to stop the discharge to the river as soon as staff were made aware of it. A clean up was not required and no fish were killed as a result.
NI Water has since identified areas within the works that will improve the alarm process and reduce future discharges which will minimise the risk of this occurring again.
Throughout the process, NI Water co-operated fully with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. NI Water’s environmental record is improving each year, and due to major capital investment, it has achieved the best ever wastewater compliance in 2010.