A Co Armagh businessman was fined a total of £3,000, £31 court costs and £15 Offenders Levy at Armagh Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Friday).
Jonathan Winter, of Ballymagerney Road, Loughgall, Co. Armagh, was fined for making a polluting discharge to a waterway and contravention of a Water (NI) Order 1999 Article 8 Prevention Notice.
On 6 September 2012, the Department issued an Article 8 Prevention Notice to Mr Winter as trade effluent was being discharged to an unnamed tributary of the Tall River from his mushroom business adjacent to 49 Derrycrew Road, Loughgall without a valid consent under the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.
On 26 April 2013, the Department issued a Notice of Breach of Article 8 Notice to Mr Winter as there was no record that he had submitted an application for consent to discharge.
On 6 June 201,3 a Water Quality Inspector (WQI), acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, visited Mr Winter’s business and observed that the mushroom houses were being washed out. While inspecting the waterway behind the mushroom houses the WQI observed a pipe discharging into the waterway. The waterway downstream of this pipe was very heavily silted and discoloured. The source of the polluting discharge was traced to premises owned by Mr Winter.
A sample taken on 6 June 2013 confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.
Anyone wishing to report a pollution incident can call the 24 hour Water Pollution Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
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