Over three years after discovery or illegal dump… Contamination risk remains at River Faughan

Future contamination of the River Faughan from the biggest illegal dump in Europe remains a possibility, the Agriculture Minister has revealed.

Details emerged following an environmental risk assessment at the Mobuoy Road site on the outskirts of Derry where over half a million tonnes of illegal was deposited.

The assessment stated that 'zones of contamination due to the illegal waste deposits have been identified that may cause future risks to water quality in the River Faughan'.

It revealed that the 'site is currently having no adverse impact on water quality in the River Faughan' and that 'risks to NI Water's drinking water abstraction at Cloghole are very low'.

The Minister, Michelle McIlveen made the comments when answering an assembly question from DUP Foyle MLA Gary Middleton who asked 'for an update on the action being taken in relation to the Mobuoy Road site'.

Mrs McIlveen said her department 'is developing the Mobouy Remediation Strategy in line with UK best practice in environmental risk management'.

She told Mr Middleton that the next stage would be to develop a costed strategy that will detail the treatments needed for the site.

Mrs McIlveen said this would allow clean-up targets to be met to protect the River Faughan and the wider environment.

The clean-up targets for the site were provided by the risk assessment.

The Minister said her department's remediation objectives were to protect water quality in the River Faughan and to protect NI Water's drinking water abstraction.