Written question asked by David Burnside (Ulster Unionist Party) on Wednesday, 23 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 April 2005. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour) on Monday, 4 April 2005 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many incidents of pollution were reported in the Six Mile Water river in 2004; and what the origins were of the incidents.

Answer: David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of pollution were reported in the Six Mile Water river in 2004; and what the origins were of the incidents. [224092] Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment's Environment and Heritage Service received 127 reports of pollution in the Six Mile Water river from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004. Of these, 52 incidents were confirmed. By origin, 27 incidents were attributed to industry, six to the Department for Regional Development's water service, three to farming, three to transport and 13 to `other' sources (i.e. sources which are not any of these nor domestic). By severity, nine incidents were assessed as `medium' in that the incidents would have had a more than localised impact and may for example have had a readily observable impact on the invertebrate life in the watercourse. The remaining 43 incidents were assessed as `low' severity in that they would have resulted in a localised environmental impact only.

Secondary information