Minister reveals how much raw sewage is being pumped into Belfast Lough

Stormont Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd
-Credit: (Image: Rebecca Black/PA)


Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd has revealed that there is currently around 28,000 cubic metres of raw sewage being pumped into Belfast Lough annually.

The Minister was speaking in the Assembly Chamber following a question from the DUP's Diane Dodds but stressed that to remove storm overflows "may not be the best and effective usage of public money."

"Storm overflows are a critical part of any wastewater system and during periods of heavy rainfall are designed to allow diluted sewage to spill into water bodies in accordance with regulations set out by NIEA," he said.

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"Spills from storm overflows are made up of wastewater from households and businesses that is heavily diluted by rainwater.

"The vast majority of what is spilled is made up of rainwater. However, NI Water estimates that approximately one to two per cent of what is spilled is raw sewage.

"NI Water publishes information on both predicted and actual spill volumes on it's website. From information provided by NI Water on predicted spills into Belfast Lough, this equates to one to two percent approximately and therefore is around 28,000 cubic metres per year."

Responding to a question from his party colleague Deirdre Hargey on why storm overflows can't be removed, the Minister said: "To remove storm overflows completely would cost billions upon billions of pounds and maybe not be the best and effective usage of public monies in that context. There is no question, we have to operate and install new wastewater treatment works.

"But the most efficient wastewater treatment works will always have overflow built into them because when a deluge of a storm comes, the system becomes overpowered and you have to release the water somewhere. If you don't release the water, then it goes back up the system and into schools, and homes and properties.

"As I said in my original answer, while the volumes of water being released are quite significant, it usually contains one or two percent of raw sewage which is not ideal and I am not suggesting it is ideal but it is one to two per cent of raw sewage being released into water courses which themselves are being heavily influenced by the storm, so they are going in to be further diluted."

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