2 December 2002
WATER SERVICE TO INVEST £43M IN DOWN DISTRICT COUNCIL AREA
DRD Water Service needs to make a substantial investment in Northern Ireland’s water and sewerage infrastructure to comply with European Directives and meet increasing customer demands.
The announcement came from Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Angela Smith, MP, ahead of tonights Water Service meeting with Down District Council at which Mr Fred Keatley, Eastern Division Infrastructure Manager presented the Capital Works Programme planned for the next year.
The Minister said: "As Minister with responsibility for Regional Development I have been struck by the magnitude of the investment deficit facing Northern Ireland’s water and sewerage services.
"Approximately £3 billion must be invested in these key services over the next 20 years to comply with increasingly rigorous European Directives on Water Quality, respond to increasing demand for water and sewerage services, safeguard public health and replace ageing infrastructure."
During the meeting with Down District Council, Mr Fred Keatley, who was accompanied by Mr Dodds, Contracts Services Manager, told Councillors that progress is being made on the major scheme to replace the 100-year-old Mourne Conduit.
"The Mourne Conduit which serves a population of around 280,000 across County Down is now reaching the end of its useful life. The first completed stage of this scheme, known as the Aquarius Project, became operational in February of this year. Good progress is being made on the second stage which will cost around £16 million to complete."
Mr Keatley also outlined a major project to provide a Water Treatment Works for the Silent Valley at a cost of £28 million. He said: "This important scheme is progressing well and should be completed by the end of 2004. The Works will serve the majority of people across County Down and South Belfast."
A total of over £4 million is also being spent on replacing and upgrading distribution watermains in the council area and these schemes will improve water quality, operating pressures and ensure the security of the water supply.
Mr Keatley said: "Other schemes recently completed include the construction of new reservoirs at Ballylucas and Russells Quarter and work has also started on a new service reservoir for Newcastle."
Presenting the Capital Works Programme for Southern Division, which serves a small area around Castlewellan, Mr Dodds, said: "Water Service plan to spend more than £3 million over the next few years on infrastructure improvements. Many improvements within the area are now completed and watermain extensions for housing developments are being added as required."
Mr Dodds said that design is also underway for construction of a new wastewater treatment works in Kilcoo, which will meet the increasing demands of the population in the area.
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