CONCERN is mounting over the sewage discharges into the River Quoile near Downpatrick.

After a recent meeting between Environment and Heritage Service Water Quality Unit officials and local anglers, a visit to a site close to the sewage treatment works was conducted.

A side stream of the Quoile was visibly contaminated with human sewage and other wastes.

The steam itself which runs close to the roundabout on the Belfast Road receives the raw sewage through a faulty Church Street sewage system.

Because of new legislation, it may even be possible for the EHS to bring prosecutions against those who are responsible for directly discharging sewage into a water system.

The EHS has new responsibilities under the Water(NI) Order 1999 and the recently introduced EU Water Framework Directive to safeguard the cleanliness of water in river systems.

Local Councillor Jack McIlherron, who also spoke to the officials at the site meeting, said: "The Department concerned has been aware of this problem for many years and the issue persists.

"Infrastructural improvements need to be made before this will stop.

"Clean water is essential for people to enjoy their recreation, whether they be anglers, canoeists or whatever."

Councillor Margaret Ritchie added: "The time is ripe to replace the old system in Downpatrick.

"it should be given full and urgent attention."

Trevor Love Chairman of the Down District Angling Club said: "I can remember this stream when I was a little boy.

"It was clean and there were plenty of fish in it.

"Now it is just like a disgusting, open sewer running into the Quoile. "This must have some effect on the quality of the water in the main river and also effect the fish that live in it.

"In the summer this area often smells very badly and is not a credit to our town."

Close to the area where the sewage is entering the river system in Downpatrick, further housing development is taking place.

The lower Quoile Pondage area is a designated Nature Reserve, an area of recognised environmental sensitivity.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Regional Development said that the Water Service has a major programme of detailed investigations known as Drainage area studies in hand.

She added: 'These will determine improvements necessary to enable the sewerage networks to meet future capacity and environmental requirements.

"A study for Downpatrick has commenced and should be completed by Spring 2005. "Major upgrading proposals arising from the Drainage Area Study are scheduled for 2006/7.

"Some improvements may be possible in advance of this study."

However, the spokeswoman said that the Water Service have presently no existing proposals to upgrade the existing sewerage system at Church Street.