Two companies responsible for building of the A6 dual carriageway in Co Derry were jointly fined £10,000 after pleading guilty to water pollution during its construction.
Sacyr, Wills Bros Ltd and Somague, a joint venture, were issued the fine by Derry Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to a single count of water pollution affecting a number of tributaries of the River Faughan and River Roe.
The court heard that between June 20, 2019, and November 9, 2020, Environment Agency inspectors investigated reports of 14 separate incidents of pollution of the tributaries.
Pollution occurred during the construction phase of the new A6 dual carriageway between Dungiven and Drumahoe, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said.
DAERA added: "The River Faughan and River Roe are important salmonid catchment areas and designated as Special Areas of Conservation for the North Atlantic Salmon.
"During a number of the pollution response investigations, inspectors found high concentrations of suspended solids discharged to the waterways which impacted up to 8km of the River Faughan and River Roe catchment areas."
The court heard the high concentrations potentially have "an abrasive effect upon the gills of fish, making them susceptible to infection and can also interfere with their respiration." Suspended solids can settle on the banks and interfere with feeding and breeding habitats.
