Work Starts on Ł8.5 Million Wastewater Treatment Works for Omagh

2 November 2004
WORK STARTS ON Ł8.5 MILLION WASTEWATER TREATMENT WORKS FOR OMAGH
Trevor Haslett, Director of Development for Water Service, today launched construction work on a new Ł8.5 million Wastewater Treatment Works for Omagh.

The new Works will be constructed on a site at Mountjoy and is scheduled for completion by December 2005.

Speaking during a visit to the site, Mr Haslett said: "This new facility will achieve compliance with the high standards set by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and will significantly improve the quality of discharges to the River Strule, which will help to protect water quality. Water Service is committed to safeguarding the environment for future generations."

The new Works is the second stage of a programme to improve wastewater treatment services for Omagh. The first stage was completed in 2003 at a cost of Ł5.5 million and provided preliminary treatment and wastewater transfer facilities for the new Works.

Mr Haslett added: "This substantial investment will provide Omagh with modern treatment facilities designed to cope with population growth and development in the town for the next 25 years.

"Investment of Ł3 billion over a 20 year period is required on water and sewerage infrastructure to 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 in a three year period up to 2006, throughout Northern Ireland. This is a visible sign of our commitment to accelerate investment on water and sewerage infrastructure and deliver customer service improvements."

In addition, a major Ł270 million Public Private Partnership programme to upgrade a number of large water and wastewater treatment facilities will also be taken forward over the next five years. The contract for the Works was awarded to a consortium consisting of Purac Ltd and Charles Brand Ltd.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For media queries, contact Anne McGivern at the DRD Press Office on 028 9054 0004 or 07850 683029.

Click here to print this press release.