MEMBERS of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council are to write back to Minister for Infrastructure Nicola Mallon after recent correspondence around the flow of sewerage into rivers was held to be inadequate.

There was also heavy criticism of the failures by the NI Environment Agency (NIEA) which, it was contended, “is turning a blind eye” to the situation.

At a previous meeting of the Environmental Services Committee, members learned there are 40 combined sewer overflows in the Council area – 27 of which have unsatisfactory intermittent discharges, going directly into the waters, putting them above the NIEA safety thresholds.

It was agreed to write to Minister Mallon highlighting this, and requesting urgent investment, but the response discussed before the most recent committee meeting was far from well-received.

Councillor Donal O’Cofaigh, Independent, described it as “lacking in respect of  consequences of underinvestment in water infrastructure”.

He said: “There must be necessary investment to prevent sewerage flowing into the River Erne around Enniskillen.

"This is subject to a determination and funding constraints, and I question how the Minister can say NI Water staff do not routinely remove any of the existing screening plant, because I have correspondence which contradicts this.

"It states screening has been removed because of funding inadequacies to cover the cost of staffing.

"I also have first-hand accounts from workers formerly employed by NI Water, who said the screening was removed.”

He queried how a screening location was not deemed such by the Department, when it pointed out rainfall at this particular point would suitably dilute overflow.

Councillor O’Cofaigh added: “The reality is, materials float to the surface, and if there’s no screening it doesn’t matter how much waste-water is put into the system. That’s what fishermen are catching, and people are potentially swimming in.

"I just cannot understand how the NIEA is turning a blind eye to this, and that is in black and white.”

It was stressed that in England, environment agencies fine privately-owned water companies tens of millions of pounds for this sort of activity, “but in Northern Ireland, where there is no independent environmental protection agency ...there’s no fining; sewerage continues to pour into our rivers and lakes, killing them off”.

Councillor O’Cofaigh proposed writing back to the Minister to get clarification.

This was seconded by Councillor Howard Thornton, Ulster Unionist, who said: “I totally agree.”

Also in support, Sinn Fein’s Councillor Tommy Maguire pointed out: “We highlighted this issue previously, and the response is inadequate.”

The proposal received unanimous support from members.