‘High’ levels of chemicals in rivers outside Omagh

A potentially harmful chemical used in weedkiller was discovered at two west Tyrone water works last year, in what NI Water has admitted was a “significant event”.

The incidents at the Derg and Glenhordial waste water treatment works only came to light when councillors were presented with an annual report for 2021 on local water quality.

MCPA is a herbicide widely-used as a component in weedkillers. Its levels were described in the report as being ‘high’ in both the Strule and Derg rivers.

It can potentially cause a number of health conditions in humans, including nausea, vomiting and stomach ache.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC) has called on NI Water to provide a full explanation of what happened.

It has claimed NI Water has not answered key questions on the incidents, including why it can state that the water quality at Glenhordial is “satisfactory” while these chemicals were found to be present.

The agency said that the herbicide seeped into the water due to run-off from agricultural catchments after heavy rainfall. They said this had put “considerable strain” on the treatment processes at the Derg and Glenhordial facilities.

‘TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE’

Councillors in Fermanagh and Omagh have described the incidents as “alarming”. They included independent councillor Dr Jo Deehan, who said that the actions of NI Water in relation to them was a case of “too little, too late”.

“What this does is highlight the urgent need for an independent environmental agency,” she said.

“NI Water have told us that we should not be alarmed. But, in my view, there is cause for alarm and their response certainly does not reassure me.

“Remedial action is needed to address the quality of our drinking water.”

Independent councillor, Emmet McAleer, also raised serious concerns about the incident, and the response of NI Water.

He said the government-owned company needed to provide the public with answers.

“Surely the public have a right to know what happened here and what the associated risks are,” he added.

“The fact that these incidents happened some time ago does not lessen their seriousness.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that there is accountability and that effective and timely action is taken.”

But NI Water played down the seriousness of the incident. It said that the overall risks associated with these herbicides is low due to a process designed to remove them at both Derg and Glenhordial.

INNOVATIVE

“NI Water is investing in innovative new treatment processes at Derg and Glenhordial WwTWs to improve the treatment works ability to cope with higher than average levels of herbicide pollutants in raw water,” they said.

NI Water went on to point out that the sample from Glenhordial associated with the failure was part of a weekly enhanced monitoring programme in the Drinking Water Safety Plan for the facility.