Member's statement: Sewage Overflow in Newry

Member's statement by Mr Gareth Wilson on 21 September 2026.

MLA

Mr Gareth Wilson

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

21 September 2026

Type

Member's statement

Business

Members' Statements

Heading

Sewage Overflow in Newry

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5741753

Read the official Assembly record

Text

It is with major concern that I note a serious matter of public safety and environmental impact in Newry. Last week, a serious sewage overflow occurred in Second Avenue in which a significant amount of raw sewage flooded that residential area. The scenes were deeply concerning for all who were impacted, with sewage flooding the pavements and roadways and then, alarmingly, cascading into the storm drain network in significant quantities. It is not the first event of its kind. I am grateful to Northern Ireland Water for its prompt action, at my request, to visit the area, tend to the problem and conduct a clean-up operation. That is very much appreciated. It goes without saying that nobody deserves to live with the constant worry of sewage overflow. When, like in that instance, the overflow is substantial and reaches the Department for Infrastructure's storm drain network, it is not only a serious public health problem but a serious environmental problem.

It is very clear that there is a dereliction of duty on the matter, and given that Sinn Féin holds the Infrastructure Ministry — indeed, the Minister is a Sinn Féin Newry MLA — I can see why residents are rightly fed up with the inaction on that troubling issue. I, on the other hand, will continue to represent everyone in Newry and Armagh. Residents, you are being failed by a Sinn Féin Infrastructure Minister and, sadly, by Northern Ireland Water, who, collectively, have not put a stop to that pollution. Residents, you are paying the price in hazardous inconvenience, but the environment is also paying a price in untreated sewage reaching our waterways. Consider the complexity and cost of a consent-to-discharge process for a private dwelling, which must, by law, avoid exactly the scenes in Second Avenue and the areas around it. A homeowner has to spend a considerable amount of money on obtaining permission, buying a new septic tank, feeding it with electricity and servicing it yearly, all to avoid untreated sewage reaching our waterways. The rules do not seem to apply to DFI. I was again concerned to note that, yesterday, only a couple of days after the previous incident, another overflow situation occurred — this time, worryingly, on higher ground on the green area on the Camlough Road. I contacted Northern Ireland Water again last night, and, hopefully, that issue can be dealt with today. The problem will only be resolved if the will to fix it is there, but I detect no will. To continue my lobbying, I have tabled an Assembly question for written answer asking Minister Kimmins to detail any action being taken to address the prevalence and impact of those overflows. The partnership agreement between the Department for Infrastructure and Northern Ireland Water states very clearly that both organisations must seek to "resolve issues quickly and constructively". The time to act is now. The fact that this is happening repeatedly shows that those with the power to solve the problem are abdicating their responsibilities and adopting a reactive, not a proactive, approach. That needs to change.

513 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not qualifying

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 16:23 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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