Dundrum dam to be drained

Dundrum dam to be drained

A RESERVOIR in Dundrum is to be drained and dredged in an effort to remove aquatic weed which has been harming fish stocks.

Northern Ireland Water (NIW) has given a commitment to carry out the work after a suspected sewage spill flowed into the small reservoir, known as Dundrum Dam, causing the weed to grow at a prodigious rate, cutting of oxygen levels for trout.

Councillor Patrick Clarke has welcomed the announcement which he believes will return the dam to its previous condition.

The village dam is presently being drained by Dundrum Angling Club to allow for the complete removal of the aquatic weed and cleaning of the bed from sewage before it can be restored and fully stocked with trout.

Estimates to complete the works using machinery are in the region of £15,000.

Three NIW senior officials met on Friday with Dundrum Angling Club members and councillor Clarke who organised the site meeting to discuss the suspected sewage spill at Dundrum Dam.

“Members of Dundrum Angling Club held a very positive and constructive meeting

with NIW officials in order to explain at first hand the major concerns of anglers regarding the recent sewage spill which polluted Dundrum Dam,” said Mr. Clarke.

“Members clearly voiced their disappointment at the lack of responsibility and assistance being shown by NIW since the sewage incident was detected on August 15 and which has resulted in the dam being closed to anglers.

“The anglers told NIW officials that the sewerage spill incident was one of the worst ever

to affect the village dam in decades and urged NIW to address the problems and wrong connections in the sewerage system which NIW has been working to repair.”

“During the meeting I challenged recent analytical results conducted by the Northern

Ireland Environmental Agency suggesting that proliferation of the aquatic weed at Dundrum Dam was not directly linked to the NIW pollution incident.”

“My reason for contesting the recent results from the Water Management Unit which were from water tests taken at the dam was due to the fact that nitrogen in the sewage lying on the dam bed was actually causing the rapid growth of the aquatic weed.”

“I now welcome following the site meeting on Friday that NI Water officials have now agreed to liaise and work with Dundrum Angling Club members over the coming weeks and months and have given a commitment to help address the matter of removing the aquatic weed and cleaning of the dam bed.”