A proposal addressing concerns about raw sewage discharging into the Foyle near Derry, has been unanimously supported by Derry City and Strabane District councillors.
Councillor Shaun Harkin from People Before Profit proposed an emergency discussion following reports of visible “sewage slicks” in the river on Sunday.
Mr Harkin said he was also “seriously concerned” a reported one million tonnes of untreated sewage is “being dumped” annually into the River Foyle between the Craigavon and Foyle Bridges.
He added: “I am requesting council urgently write to the minister for infrastructure and NI Water seeking meetings, where the department and agency will provide their assessments of the effects of discharging untreated sewage in this council area and their action plans to address the long term impacts from Stormont’s failure to properly fund water/sewage infrastructure in this council area,” he said.
Mr Harkin’s initial proposal was broadened to include the whole Foyle Basin and its tributaries.
NI Water was alerted to Sunday’s “sewage slicks” near the Manannán Mac Lir entrance to Foyle Marina, by Derry urbanist Steve Bradley.
Mr Bradley told The Irish News he noticed a discharge pipe, which normally would not have been visible, because the tide had been exceptionally low and the water very still.
He added: “The pipe was just barely below the water level so you could see what was coming out and notice the decolouration of the water.”
He said it happened “at the time the Foyle Maritime Festival was about to begin”.
“The Maritime Festival is important. Derry City and Strabane District Council is celebrating the river. It is spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on an event which is going to attract 150,000 people.”
It's a glorious day along the River Foyle in #Derry - but low tide & still water has exposed what appear to be sewage slicks? @NIWnews - Do u release untreated sewage into ths river? 150,000 people will be visiting that spot next wkend - incl activities on the water. @JohnODowdSF pic.twitter.com/Breil5o56q
— Steve Bradley 🇺🇦 (@bradley_steve) June 23, 2024
In a statement to The Irish News regarding Sunday’s “sewage slicks”, a spokesperson for NI Water said: “NI Water was notified of the concerns and after carrying out inspections found the wastewater network and all wastewater pumping stations along the River Foyle to be operating as normal, with no spills.
The Irish News has approached Northern Ireland Water for comment on the reported 1.2 million tonnes of sewage entering the Foyle.
