News Release Page Title

3 December 2001

DRD WATER SERVICE TO INVEST £22 MILLION IN STRABANE

DRD Water Service is planning to invest over £22 million on water and sewerage projects in the Strabane District Council Area, during the next three years.

Details of the investment were outlined by Jack McFarland, Contracts Service Manager, Western Division, as he presented the Capital Works Programme to a meeting of Strabane District Council tonight.

Mr McFarland told Councillors that good progress was being made on a number of important projects.

He said: "Water Service have already commenced work on the new Derg Water Treatment Works where £10 million is being spent to upgrade the Works to fully comply with the EC Directive for Water Quality. The contract is due to be completed in March 2002."

One major scheme planned for the town is the upgrading of the Wastewater Treatment Works in Strabane to assure EC compliance. The contract for this scheme has been awarded recently and work on site will commence shortly.

In the next two years the smaller wastewater treatment works in Bready and Cranagh will be upgraded and in later years similar upgrades will take place at Castlederg, Clady, Ballymagorry, Magheramason, Artigarvan, Killen, Glenmornan, Milltown, Burndennett, Cullion and Spamont.

In relation to future Capital funding Mr McFarland said: "The funds available to Water Service are substantial and can provide many improvements to water and sewerage facilities. However, the available funding is far below what is required to fully upgrade water and wastewater treatment works and the watermain and sewerage networks.

"A review of annual investment plans is being carried out to ensure that the available funding is allocated to those projects which merit highest priority and which support the effective development of Northern Ireland.

"Deferment of projects is possible and significant changes to the timing of individual projects will be conveyed through normal consultative channels between Water Service and District Councils."

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