NI Water has finished a significant reservoir safety upgrade at Dunalis Reservoir, near Coleraine, as part of a £6 million programme to bolster the safety and resilience of key impounding reservoirs across Northern Ireland.

The scheme focused on replacing and enlarging the reservoir's spillway channel, which is essential for safely carrying excess water during periods of exceptionally heavy rainfall. The redesigned spillway is engineered to handle extreme flood flows, strengthening the site's ability to manage severe weather and ensuring it meets current reservoir safety standards.

Although Dunalis Reservoir does not supply drinking water, NI Water continues to manage all impounding reservoirs in its ownership. The utility emphasises routine inspections and sustained investment to keep these assets operating safely and to protect nearby communities and the environment.

Welcoming the completion of the project, NI Water's Senior Project Manager Mark Richardson said: "We are delighted to have successfully completed these important safety improvement works at Dunalis Reservoir. This project forms part of our wider £6 million programme of investment aimed at improving the safety and resilience of impounding reservoirs across Northern Ireland. "Although Dunalis Reservoir is not used to supply drinking water, it remains an important asset that must be maintained to the highest safety standards. The newly enlarged spillway channel has been designed to safely accommodate extreme flood flows, providing enhanced protection for the reservoir during severe weather conditions and helping to ensure its long-term integrity.

"Investment in infrastructure such as this is essential. These improvements will continue to serve the community long after the construction teams have left site, helping to safeguard the reservoir and the environment for future generations.

"We would like to thank local stakeholders for their patience and cooperation while the works were being undertaken, as well as our project partners AECOM and BSG for their expertise and commitment in delivering this important scheme safely and successfully."

The project was delivered under NI Water's long-term reservoir safety improvement programme. Consulting engineer AECOM provided design, project management and site supervision, while specialist civil engineering contractor BSG carried out the construction works.

Completion of the Dunalis spillway upgrade marks another step in NI Water's ongoing investment in critical infrastructure, helping the organisation address future challenges and maintain safe reservoir operations across Northern Ireland for years to come.