Hain opens NI's largest water treatment works

Secretary of State Peter Hain has officially opened a new £20 million state-of-the-art water treatment works at Drumaroad in Co Down.

The plant treats water from the Silent Valley reservoir and is the largest of its type in Northern Ireland.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Hain said: “The construction of this Works represents the final stage of the £62 million Aquarius Water Project to upgrade the Mourne water supply. It will ensure compliance with the demanding EU drinking water quality standards and will safeguard the water supply to around 300,000 customers in large parts of County Down and Belfast.

“This major Works is an important element of a £1.1 billion investment programme to upgrade the water and sewerage infrastructure across Northern Ireland in the five-year period to 2007/08. At present new treatment works are being completed at an average rate of three every fortnight, but this has a price tag which we will only be able to sustain if we raise more resources locally to help pay for that investment."

Following the opening, the Secretary of State then visited the Peace Maze at Castlewellan Forest Park. Based on the concept of commemoration of peace and reconciliation, the Peace Maze is an important tourist attraction, attracting almost 500,000 visitors since it opened in 2001.

The Peace Maze project cost £570,000, 75% of which was funded by the European Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the border counties, the remainder by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Down District Council.

(MB/SP)