02/08/2002

Robinson opens £9.5m water treatment works

A new £9.5 million water treatment works, serving the east Antrim and north Belfast areas, was opened by Regional Development Minister Peter Robinson today.

Unveiling a plaque to mark the opening of the new Dorisland Water Treatment Works, at Carrickfergus, the Minister said the new works, which will serve 30,000 customers in the Carrickfergus, Islandmagee, Newtownabbey and north Belfast areas, would ensure compliance with the quality standards set by the European Union Drinking Water Directive.

A further £2.8 million was spent on a new pumping station and pipelines to ensure the safe transmission of water to customers.

The Minister said: “These significant investments demonstrate my commitment to ensuring that customers receive the highest quality drinking water. This is of paramount importance and is Water Service’s highest priority.

“The construction of the new works presented a considerable challenge to the construction team and Water Service staff. Great care was taken in programming the work to ensure the continuity of water supplies to customers.”

Mr Robinson said that it was "critically important" that the contribution of quality water and sewerage services to the economic be accorded greater priority.

“Today’s official opening of this £12.3 million investment is an important step in providing the people of Northern Ireland with water and sewerage services that will meet their needs well into the future,” he added.

The new Dorisland Water Treatment Works was built on the site of the Old Dorisland Works, which it replaces.

It also replaces the Lough Mourne Water Treatment Works, located approximately four miles to the north east of Dorisland, which has already been taken out of service.

(MB)

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