NI Water mopping up sewage as floods ravage Belfast

Northern Ireland Water is helping to clean up sewage from 158 properties following severe flooding in the region.

The company fielded 2,800 calls from south and west Belfast, Bangor and Lisburn following sustained heavy rain on Wednesday.

Front-line response staff and contractors were placed on “high alert”, while a major incident response team was set up at head office.

NI Water chief executive Trevor Haslett said at 5pm yesterday: “All NI Water key staff and contractors continue to be on high alert following the continued severe weather warning reports.

“I would like to reassure customers our staff have worked throughout the night responding to emergency situations and again today carrying out clean up operations and will continue with this work into tonight if necessary until the threat of flooding has passed.”

At 10pm yesterday, the water company said it had completed an initial clean-up of 75 properties affected by sewage flooding and expected to cover a further 35 before morning.

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