14 February 2005
WATER SERVICE LAUNCHES PPP WASTEWATER INDUSTRY DAY
Water Service’s Public Private Partnerships (PPP) Wastewater Industry Day took place today, as part of the £270 million PPP capital investment programme for water and wastewater treatment facilities, across Northern Ireland.
The Industry Day was used as a forum to address delegates from potential private sector bidders and financial institutions, and to outline plans to use the Water Service’s PPP Programme to deliver the Omega Project. This project will provide wastewater and sludge disposal projects, with an approximate capital value of £120 million.
Katharine Bryan, Chief Executive of Water Service, expressed her commitment to progressing this scheme:
"Water Service requires capital investment of around £3 billion over the next 20 years, to upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure and assets in Northern Ireland to the standards required to protect public health, to comply with environmental and drinking water quality standards, to improve levels of service to customers and to meet future demand for services.
"In 2002, with co-sponsorship from the Strategic Investment Board for Northern Ireland, Water Service embarked on the identification of opportunities for the formation of Public Private Partnerships to contribute to this programmed investment. Working in partnership with the private sector in this way will provide opportunities for the
introduction of modern technology and best practice in line with the latest EU compliance requirements."This is another exciting programme of work for Water Service and we are looking forward to working closely with the private sector to deliver these much needed improvements in waste water treatment as quickly as possible.
Martin Darcy from the Strategic Investment Board said: "The Strategic Investment Board is committed to the Water Service’s PPP Programme. The SIB has been working in close consultation with Water Service right from the beginning, and we will continue to lend our support to help ensure that the Omega Wastewater Treatment Project reaches a successful completion. This project will significantly contribute to the Strategic Investment Programme in Northern Ireland."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The improvements to wastewater treatment services will be made through collaboration with consortia from the private sector. The successful contractors will then be responsible for operating and maintaining the treatment facilities across Northern Ireland for a period in the region of 25 years, for an agreed series of payments from Government.
- For further media queries, contact Anne McGivern DRD Information Office, 028 9054 0004.
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