Vandals wreck water plant

Water runs onto the street from Moneymore Wastewater Treatment Works after vandals broke in and caused damage.

A fence, electrical switches and water maintenance equipment were damaged in the latest incident at the NI Water owned wastewater treatment works on Hammond Street.

Police are appealing for information on the attack, thought to have happened sometime on Monday, May 27th.

It is the latest in a series of vandalism incidents where previously control panels inside the plant have been tampered with.

The damage is so extreme that local representatives are warning that those behind the attacks are putting their own lives in danger to wreck the facility.

“Somebody is going to get seriously injured, if not killed if this continues,” Moneymore councillor Robert Kelly said.

“The water service contacted me and what they have said is if someone falls into the tanksthat by the time the emergency services come it will be too late.”

“They are concerned about the damage, but more concerned about someone losing their life.”

It is the second time the water treatment has been attacked in recent times.

Last year vandals caused arpound £4,000 worth of damage which led to a sewage leak in a nearby housing area.

Mid-Ulster MLA Sandra Overend said this could easily happen again.

“Of utmost importance is the potential this vandalism has to cause a pollution incident, with damage to equipment meaning water is not treated adequately.

DUP MLA Ian McCrea also condemned the incident, and urged anyone with information on the vandalism to contact police.