Countryside Gets Wastewater Boost

Rural villages across Northern Ireland will benefit from a £4.3m extension to NI Water's Rural Wastewater Investment Programme.

Announced this week, this further investment in environmental improvements is the latest of four years of development in its Rural Wastewater Investment Programme.

The additional funding brings the amount of money NI Water has allocated since 2008 to over £22m, specifically to upgrading rural wastewater treatment systems which serve populations of up to 300 people.

Announcing the additional funding, the Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy (pictured right) said: "NI Water's Rural Wastewater Investment Programme was set up to tackle widespread refurbishment of some of the 900 minor wastewater works that span the length and breadth of Northern Ireland.

"This major investment will completely overhaul existing outdated systems; implement the latest technology available to bring about environmental benefits and facilitate future local development for the next 10 years."

This latest phase of the contract has once again been awarded to local companies, BSG Civil Engineering (Maghera) and Williams Industrial Services (Mallusk), who as a joint venture (JV) have undertaken the last three years' work on the programme - completing 65 sites - with technical support from McAdam Design in Belfast.

Welcoming the JV team back on board, Bill Gowdy, Acting Director of Engineering Procurement (pictured left) said: "The project is both complex and logistically challenging but the rewards are far-reaching in terms of improved water quality in local rivers.

"NI Water is pleased to work with local companies on this scheme and will continue to develop new technologies and processes that will benefit wastewater services for our customers."

The Ulster Unionist Minister concluded: "The Regional Development Strategy earmarks growth in our smaller towns, villages and rural communities to maximise their potential.

"This investment programme can help support that aim as well as enhancing the local environment."

(BMcC/KMcA)