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Ulster Oil Pollution Incidents Continue to Decline
5th March 2010
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency has recently published its Annual Water Pollution and Incidents and Enforcement Report for 2008, which reports a continued and welcome decrease in the number of oil related pollution incidents in the province.
During 2008, a total of 202 oil related pollution incidents were recorded by the Agency, accounting for 16.3% of all reported pollution incidents in Northern Ireland. This represents a welcome decrease of 0.34% upon the prior year and a reduction of 19.2% from 2001 when 250 oil related incidents were recorded.
Of the total number of oil related incidents recorded during 2008, 17.5% were classified as 'Medium Severity', 82.5% were recorded as 'Low Severity' and no 'High Severity' incidents were reported.
During 2008, 3 oil spills reported in 2007 were referred to the Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland with a recommendation for Prosecution. Fines and Costs for 2007 oil related pollution incidents amounted to £8,539.20.
Overall, recorded oil pollution incidents in Northern Ireland have declined by 26% since their peak in 2002, representing a net reduction of 70 incidents per annum. The decline coincides with a significant increase in the installation of Bunded Fuel Oil Tanks in Northern Ireland.
A Bunded Tank consists of a 'tank within a tank'. The inner tank is the primary fuel storage vessel, with the outer tank acting as a failsafe. In the event of a spill, spilt fuel will be contained in the outer tank and an environmental pollution incident averted. Updated Building Regulations introduced in 2006, require the installation of Bunded Tanks at most new and replacement domestic oil heating tank installations. Similar legislation exists within the agricultural sector in Northern Ireland and is proposed for the commercial, industrial and institutional sector too.
Overall, farms remained the biggest source of pollution in Northern Ireland, accounting for more than 1 in 4 pollution incidents, whilst the single biggest polluter was Northern Ireland Water Limited.
