Archived press release

Sewage in our seas scandal

26 November 2007

Friends of the Earth has described as a scandal the news [1] that so many of Northern Ireland's beaches are polluted with raw sewage. Data released today by the Department of the Environment show that water quality at Ballygally, Ballyholme, Ballywalter, Carnlough, Helen's Bay, Newcastle, Portrush and Waterfoot failed to meet the minimum European standard on at least one occasion during the summer bathing season.

Pollution campaigner Lisa Fagan commented:

"This news will come as a shock to those who have walked along our beaches or allowed their children to paddle in the sea this summer. It makes particularly grim reading for those who have been swimming or surfing in the affected waters."

Without significant investment, next year's results may be even more shocking. Tougher standards will apply once a new European Bathing Water Directive comes into effect on 24 March 2008. But Friends of the Earth reserved its most stinging criticism for DOE rather than NI Water which owns the sewage infrastructure:

"Today's press release from the Department of the Environment is the most galling part of this unfortunate episode. Instead of highlighting the impact our crumbling sewage system is having on water quality, Environment Minister Arlene Foster attempts to put some positive spin on the story, blaming the wet weather and pointing out that most of our beaches have passed the pitifully low, minimum standard."

She continued:

"This illustrates perfectly why Northern Ireland needs an independent Environmental Protection Agency. An independent EPA would tell it like it is, rather than defend the failings of the Government-owned NI Water and the budget allocated to it by the Executive. Environment and Heritage Service is unable to act as a regulator because of its location inside DOE. Rather than speak up for the environment and public interest, it behaves as an apologist for Northern Ireland's single biggest polluter."

Ms Fagan concluded:

"Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK and Ireland without an independent EPA. Here it falls to organisations such as Friends of the Earth to expose the truth behind the spin in this important matter of public interest."

Notes

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
7 Donegall Street Place
BELFAST
BT1 2FN
Tel: 028 9023 3488
Fax: 028 9024 7556
Email: foe-ni@foe.co.uk.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust