NIW pressurised over Ballyhornan

NIW pressurised over Ballyhornan

3 October 2012

MORE details have emerged about the scale of work Northern Ireland Water plans to carry out to stop raw sewage being pumped into the Irish Sea.

Four months ago, the organisation was warned by the Environment Agency that it has until the end of March next year to stop the untreated discharges.

Homes at the former Ministry of Defence base are connected to a sewerage system which pumps waste water directly into the sea off the local coastline, in contravention of strict discharge standards.

The scale of NI Water’s proposed work in the Ballyhornan area has been set out by Environment Minister Alex Attwood in a letter to South Down MLA Jim Wells.

Mr. Attwood said NI Water has secured funding for the construction of a screen to filter waste water at the Killard Drive area in the village before it enters the sea. This site has also been earmarked for the construction of a new pumping station to pump raw sewage to Ardglass for treatment.

The Environment Minister said the procurement of land at Killard Drive has been agreed with the landowner and the formalities of purchasing it are progressing. But he said access to the proposed facility is still being negotiated with the owner of a private road.

Mr. Attwood’s letter also explains that a waste water pumping station located close to Ballyhornan beach is to be upgraded to re-route it to the new screening facility when it is constructed. He said existing sewers in the area will also be diverted to the proposed screening facility.

And the Environment Minister has confirmed he has tasked his officials to carry out site inspections at Ballyhornan, as well as requesting updates from NI Water to monitor the upgrade of the works.

Mr. Wells said he “strongly welcomes” the Environment Minister’s letter. “While I accept the Ballyhornan sewage issue is a complex one, it is intolerable that such a beautiful part of South Down’s coastline has been blighted by inadequate sewage treatment,” he said.

“I very much welcome Minister Attwood’s announcement that an enforcement notice has been served on NI Water compelling it to upgrade sewerage treatment in the area by the end of March next year.”

Mr. Wells said like many others, he will be watching the situation carefully to ensure that the Minister’s instructions are obeyed.