The Northern Ireland Water Company has been fined a trifling sum of £100, after untreated sewage was discovered in two West Belfast rivers. Belfast Magistrates Court heard that an Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) inspector investigated a pollution incident affecting the Colin Glen River and the River Lagan at Dunmurry. The discharge was traced to the Dunmurry Wastewater Treatment Works, where untreated sewage was found overflowing from the storm tanks during dry weather.
The water company was prosecuted under the Water (Northern Ireland) Order SI 1999/662. It subsequently pleaded guilty in respect of two breaches, namely, discharging polluting matter and contravening the conditions of a consent to discharge. It was the company's first conviction for causing water pollution since losing Crown immunity last year.
The paltry fine has outraged environmentalists, particularly in view of the fact that it is unlikely to put a hole in the finances of the multi-million pound Government owned company. If an individual were to dump waste in any of Northern Ireland's rivers, they would face a fine of up to £2,500.
In further news, Northern Ireland Water was again in murky waters, after a blunder which could mean average water bills will be £30 a year more than expected. The Consumer Council claims the company miscalculated the amount householders should pay from next year.
The water company has blamed the system it inherited from the Water Service for a multi-million pound revenue shortfall. Chief Executive, Katharine Bryan, said it will try to reduce the impact on customers. However, Steve Costello, chairman of the Consumer Council, said, "Northern Ireland Water makes a mistake and consumers are expected to pick up the tab - this can't be fair." He added that the company must be held accountable for this expensive mistake and sought assurance that consumers will not have any further surprises.
