Former Environment Minister Arlene Foster has revealed that Northern Ireland Water (NIW) was responsible for 261 pollution incidents in the first nine months of its operation.
Details of 50 enforcement cases taken against the company by the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland (DoE NI) were also revealed, although only a fraction resulted in prosecution. Nevertheless, in terms of severity, one pollution incident was classified as 'high' and 58 as 'medium'.
NIW was established as a Government owned company in April last year, taking over from the Water Service of the Department for Regional Development (DRD). Along with water supplies, it is responsible for sewerage and waste water facilities, which are a major source of river and coastal pollution.
However, while the Water Service was exempt from prosecution due to its Crown immunity, NIW does not enjoy such status.
A NIW spokesman said, "Water and sewerage facilities in Northern Ireland suffer from a legacy of under investment over a number of years. NIW is tackling this with a major investment programme".
