News Release Page Title

12 December 2001

DRD MINISTER ANNOUNCES AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR MOURNE WATER TREATMENT WORKS

Regional Development Minister, Peter Robinson, MP, MLA, today announced that Earth Tech-Farrans has been selected to design and build the new £20 million Mourne Water Treatment Works.

The design phase of the project, which will be located near Drummaroad, Castlewellan, is expected to last for six months. Work is scheduled to begin on site early next summer and is due to last for two years.

Mr Robinson said: "The Silent Valley Reservoir is renowned as a major civil engineering achievement, which has successfully supplied high quality drinking water to Belfast and parts of County Down for the last 100 years.

"However, in order to fully comply with Water Quality Regulations and to ensure adequate protection against cryptosporidium, it is necessary to build a modern and sophisticated treatment works.

"I am delighted to announce the award of the Design and Build contract for this important scheme to Earth Tech-Farrans. Their proposals, which will now be finalised, are anticipated to cost around £20 million and represent excellent value for money against the original £35 million estimate.

"This has been achieved in part by the innovative procurement approach adopted by Water Service, which enables the contracting team to maximise on its skills, knowledge and experience."

Water Service and Farrans are also completing a major £32 million scheme to replace the 100-year old Mourne Conduit, as part of the ‘Aquarius’ Mourne Water Project. This serves a population of around 280,000 and involves laying 42 kilometres of pipeline between Castlewellan and Belfast. It is expected to be operational by next Spring and will significantly improve the security of the public water supply.

The Minister said: "The progress on the Mourne Water Treatment Works, which is the final part of the Aquarius Mourne Water Project, is a significant step in the Water Service’s drive to improve drinking water quality. When completed, it will ensure the ongoing provision of a safe water supply to a large area of Belfast and County Down.

"These significant investments within the Silent Valley system demonstrate the commitment of Water Service to ensuring that customers receive the highest quality drinking water. It is of paramount importance that we do everything we can to protect public health."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. Earth Tech-Farrans has been appointed as the preferred bidder for the new Mourne Water Treatment Works and is a consortium comprising of two companies. Earth Tech, based at Tankersley in South Yorkshire, is a global provider of water management, engineering technology and environmental and transportation services. It has recently acquired Newry and Dublin-based Jones Environmental Ltd. Farrans (Construction) Ltd, based at Dunmurry, is the biggest Civil Engineering Company in Northern Ireland. The consortium is supported for professional engineering and architectural services by Newtownards based McAdam Design.

  2. This project is being procured using a Water Quality and Treatment Framework Agreement, which was advertised in July 2001. Forty-five companies or consortia applied for inclusion on to the Framework and following a rigorous selection process, four consortia were selected. The four Framework Contractors were subsequently invited to tender on a design and build basis for the new Treatment Works.

    Click here to print this press release.