River pollution lands DoE in hot water

Northern Ireland's Department of the Environment has been criticised after it emerged that a tributary of the River Faughan situated next to an illegal waste dump exhibited signs of pollution.

According to environment minister Mark Durkan, pollution has been identified in a stream next to the site, which is regarded as the largest illegal waste dump in the continent.

Almost 1.5 million litres of contaminated surface water has had to be tankered off the City Waste site in County Londonderry and then treated at a local wastewater works - something that has angered groups such as the Green Party.

After being questioned by the Green Party's Steven Agnew at the NI Assembly, Mr Durkan said the fallout has not been extensive.

He explained: "No significant pollution has been identified in the River Faughan. There has been some pollution in the local stream adjacent to the site - however, a visual inspection by NIEA staff in April noted that this has receded."

Despite these assurances, the fact that the contamination was allowed to happen has been met with derision in some circles, with scientist Dr James Orr claiming that the DoE was guilty of not responding to the problem for "years".

"It appears they are still not responding to stop pollution in a river from which most of Derry gets its drinking water," he elaborated.

The calls for action were exacerbated by a spokesman for the River Faughan Anglers, who said he had noticed sewage fungus during a walk along the stream earlier this month.

"I also noted signs where leachate had seeped from the illegal landfill directly into the stream, staining the ground at five separate points," he added.

In response, the DoE warned of the effects of scaremongering, saying no major pollution has been identified in the River Faughan, and that there has been a "significant improvement", including a substantial reduction in the prevalence of sewage fungus.