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Sewage flooding risk until 2009 Forecast means no flooding excuse
(about 2 hours later)
Flooding will pose a risk to homes in the lower Ormeau area of south Belfast until 2009 when a new sewerage system is in place, the Water Service says.Flooding will pose a risk to homes in the lower Ormeau area of south Belfast until 2009 when a new sewerage system is in place, the Water Service says.
Raw sewage flooded onto streets near the River Lagan on Sunday afternoon. Raw sewage flooded onto streets near the River Lagan on Sunday afternoon, the latest in a series of incidents.
The area has suffered severe flooding several times in recent years, and Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey said local people were angered by this latest incident. The Consumer Council's Eleanor Gill said the Water Service knew heavy rain was forecast and should have prepared.
The Water Service said a £120m six-mile sewerage tunnel will be ready in two years and would solve the problem.The Water Service said a £120m six-mile sewerage tunnel will be ready in two years and would solve the problem.
Spokesman William Duddy said £1.2m was spent on improving the system in 2002 but the area flooded again in December 2005.Spokesman William Duddy said £1.2m was spent on improving the system in 2002 but the area flooded again in December 2005.
"We have been liaising closely with residents and local representatives ever since," he said."We have been liaising closely with residents and local representatives ever since," he said.
"We want to make sure they understand that where the houses are situated at the high tide level of the River Lagan, and given the current capacity of the system, there will be a risk of flooding in that area," he said."We want to make sure they understand that where the houses are situated at the high tide level of the River Lagan, and given the current capacity of the system, there will be a risk of flooding in that area," he said.
In December 2005, raw sewage flooded onto streets in the areaMr Duddy said until the project to improve Belfast's sewerage infrastructure was complete, they had to focus on making sure the current system operates as well as possible. The area was flooded following heavy rain on SundayMr Duddy said until the project to improve Belfast's sewerage infrastructure was complete, they had to focus on making sure the current system operates as well as possible.
Ms Gill of the Consumer Council, which champions the rights of water consumers, said people had a right to expect more.
"We knew there was going to be bad weather, and in the same way that we have to do emergency planning for electricity or gas, surely in this day and age there should have been something in place," she said.
South Belfast assembly member Alex Maskey said he was not satisfied with the Water Service's response on Sunday.South Belfast assembly member Alex Maskey said he was not satisfied with the Water Service's response on Sunday.
"There's something not right about the system - it wasn't just one manhole cover that erupted," he said."There's something not right about the system - it wasn't just one manhole cover that erupted," he said.
"Clearly the system broke down and people are rightly angry that it happened in the first place, never mind the response to it.""Clearly the system broke down and people are rightly angry that it happened in the first place, never mind the response to it."
SDLP assembly member Alasdair McDonnell said that after the December 2005 flooding, local politicians were assured it was caused by freak circumstances rather than heavy rain.
"This community has been treated shabbily and it is simply not acceptable - they deserve answers, and clearly the Water Service seems to be content giving whichever excuse is convenient for each episode," he said.
Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy of Sinn Fein has asked Northern Ireland Water for a full report into the ongoing problem of flooding in the area.