Ballynahinch sewerage pipes repaired

Ballynahinch sewerage pipes repaired

16 September 2020

A PERSISTENT flooding problem in Ballynahinch town centre may finally have been addressed.

Damaged underground sewerage pipes close to the junction of Main Street and Lisburn Street were repaired last week by Phoenix Gas contractors.

The most recent flooding occurred three weeks ago when Storm Francis wreaked havoc across parts of the district when a sewer which handles both raw sewage and storm water could not cope with a huge volume of water.

Raw sewage mixed with storm water spewed onto the street at part of Ballynahinch town cente where there have been a number of previous incidents.

Previously, both Northern Ireland Water and the Department for Infrastructure pinned responsibility for fixing the problem on one another.

Rowallane councillor, Billy Walker, has welcomed the completion of repairs to the underground pipes which are believed to have been damaged when a new gas main was being laid at this part of Ballynahinch.

He met recently on site with a local roads officials but was disappointed that no one from NI Water was able to join them to discuss addressing the issue.

Cllr Walker said he was informed by the utility company that its officials could not meet with him as the flooding issue had already been formally raised with Stormont infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon.

The Rowallane councillor said issues around Covid were also cited.

“The bottom line is that following a survey of the underground pipes the source of the flooding was identified. More importantly, repairs have now been completed which is good news for those business owners who have to run for sandbags when the manhole overflows,” continued Cllr Walker.

“It is my understanding that the cracked pipes restricted the flow of storm water which mixed with raw sewage which was then forced towards the manhole with such ferocity that its heavy metal lid was lifted.”

Cllr Walker said while pleased that work to rectify the flooding issue has been completed, he explained that the network of pipes below the surface had previously been cleaned by high-powered water jets but this did not address the problem, especially after heavy rain.

“It is hard enough for traders in the current economic climate and several business owners should not have had to worry every time there was heavy rain, fearing their premises could be flooded,” he said.

“The flooding issue also put road users at risk, not just because of the volume of water that was surging out of a main drain, but because heavy metal manhole covers had been slightly lifted. In addition, traders’ frustration about the lack of action to fix the problem had given way to anger.”

Cllr Walker said that he cannot thank the Department for Infrastructure enough for its help in finally addressing the flooding issue, explaining that as winter approaches there will be many in Ballynahinch relieved that a problem which has blighted a busy part of the town should not rear its head again.

“My one regret is that this issue took so long to resolve. Now that the repairs have been completed I hope we have seen the last of flooding at a busy part of Ballynahinch.

“Phoenix Gas also deserves credit for holding its hands up, admitting responsibility for the damaged pipes and ensuring that the repairs were carried out swiftly.”