AQW 17656/17-22 Written question to the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail (i) pollution incidents on the Sixmilewater River in the 2021 calendar year to date; (ii) the category of severity assigned to each; (iii) whether sources of pollution have been identified; and (iii) what, if any, follow up actions have taken place.
Asked by John Blair MLA on 20 April 2021
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 20 April 2021
- Answer due by
- 6 May 2021
- Answered
- 28 April 20218 days after tabling
- Priority question
- No
Answer
There have been 22 reports of water pollution in the Sixmilewater catchment between 1 January and 31 March 2021. The table below provides the information requested for the 7 incidents where pollution was confirmed.
| Pollutant Category | Pollution Severity | Polluter Identified | Follow Up Action |
| Sewage | Medium | Yes | Investigated - Ongoing Water Order 1999 Enforcement |
| Suspended Solids | Low | Yes | Investigated - Discharge Stopped - Pollution Prevention Advice Given |
| Oil | Low | No | Investigated - No Polluter Identified therefore no further action possible |
| Oil | Low | No | Investigated - No Polluter Identified therefore no further action possible |
| Suspended Solids | Low | No | Investigated - No Polluter Identified therefore no further action possible |
| Agriculture | Medium | Yes | Investigated - Nutrients Action Programme Enforcement |
| Agriculture | Low | Yes | Investigated – Nutrients Action Programme Enforcement |