NI Water recently hosted Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins at the Ballygawley Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW) to celebrate the completion of a major £8 million upgrade.

The project, situated off Tullybryan Road/Rameen Drive, began in Summer 2023 with the goal of modernising the facility to support regional growth and environmental protection.

The upgraded plant now meets more rigorous environmental discharge standards, which will help improve the water quality of the Ballygawley River. As a tributary of the River Blackwater, the waterway eventually drains into Lough Neagh. By increasing the capacity of the works by approximately 33%, the investment removes existing development constraints in the Ballygawley area.

Throughout the duration of the contract, the project supported the local economy by employing over 260 people at various stages. To minimise the impact on the surrounding community, NI Water maintained regular communication with residents regarding construction traffic. The facility remained fully operational during the build, with existing assets retained where possible to manage capital costs. The final design utilises a traditional, sustainable treatment process engineered for low energy consumption. Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins, said: "I was pleased to see firsthand the work undertaken to complete this critical £8m upgrade. This investment will raise the capacity of the Works by approximately 33% which is great news for the local economy. This will enable the removal of development constraints in Ballygawley, whilst delivering important environmental improvements. This lies at the heart of my three-pronged approach and demonstrates that it is already beginning to deliver encouraging results."

Dr Sara Venning, CEO of NI Water, added: "We at NI Water were delighted to welcome Minister Kimmins to the site to view the recent upgrade work at Ballygawley Wastewater Treatment Works, which will bring many improvements to wastewater services for our customers, as well as supporting local development and improving water quality in the Ballygawley River. Boosting the local economy, over 260 people were employed at various stages over the life of the contract. With the plant located close to local residents, clear communication was essential. We kept neighbours informed through regular newsletters, especially ahead of periods with increased construction traffic. We extend our sincere thanks to the local community for their patience and cooperation throughout the project. This is a great example of investment in essential new wastewater infrastructure, which will benefit the local area for many years to come."

The project was delivered by main contractor GRAHAM, supported by several local firms including Cookstown-based TES Group, Tetra Tech RPS, and Belfast-based designers Doran Consulting.