Water Service To Invest Ł25 Million In Cookstown Council Area

12 October 2004
WATER SERVICE TO INVEST Ł25 MILLION IN COOKSTOWN COUNCIL AREA
DRD Water Service plans to undertake work to the value of Ł25 million in the Cookstown area, over the next three years, as detailed in the capital works programme, which was presented to the District Council.
Director of Customer Services, William Duddy, said: "Investment of Ł3 billion over the next 20 years is required to protect public health, meet European standards on water quality, respond to increasing demand and upgrade infrastructure.
"This investment programme is already underway and the Government has allocated around Ł590 million, to invest in water and sewerage services, up to 2006, throughout Northern Ireland.
"Local projects include the Ł11 million Cookstown Wastewater Treatment Works, which is currently on site. This important scheme will ensure that the quality of discharges to the Ballinderry River meets increasingly demanding national and European regulations and that the Works can cope with development in the area."
Mr Duddy also detailed an extensive programme of improvements to other Wastewater Treatment Works including Rock, Clunto Richardson, Moneymore, Dunnamore, Coagh and Pomeroy, accompanied by sewer extensions and replacements. Sandholes and Stewartstown Wastewater Treatment Works are being replaced with pumping stations.
He said: "We are also continuing to upgrade the water distribution infrastructure, and the zonal study of the water distribution system in the Lough Fea supply zone will lead to an extensive programme of watermain schemes, which will improve and maintain water quality in the area. In addition, existing minor watermain extensions and renewals are progressing through design and construction stages."
The Minister, John Spellar, MP, recently announced proposals for domestic charges for water and sewerage services, including protection for low income households and changes to the current non-domestic charging arrangements. These reforms, including the commencement of phasing in of the new charges, are to be implemented from 2006/7, or as soon as practicable thereafter.
An Integrated Impact Assessment of the Water Reform proposals, addressing matters such as equality and regulatory impacts, will be published for consultation in the autumn.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Details of the proposals, for domestic and non-domestic charges for water and sewerage services, can be found on www.waterreformni.gov.uk

For media queries, contact Anne McGivern at the DRD Press Office, on 028 9054 0004.

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