Water Service Invests Ł103 Million In Belfast Council Area

23 February 2005
WATER SERVICE INVESTS Ł103 MILLION IN BELFAST COUNCIL AREA
DRD Water Service today announced plans to start projects worth Ł88 million in the Belfast area, over the next three years, in addition to the Ł15 million currently under construction.
John Spellar, MP, Minister with responsibility for the Department for Regional Development, 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, in the Budget announced in December 2004, around Ł735 million to invest in water and sewerage services up to 2008, throughout Northern Ireland. The introduction of water charges next year will ensure that the investment required, can be sustained without taking money from other priority services."
William Duddy, Director of Customer Services for Water Service, presented the details of the capital works programme to Belfast City Council.
Mr Duddy said: "In addition to the Belfast Sewers Project, local projects include improvements to watermains and sewers in the Elmwood Avenue and Malone Avenue areas.
"Watermain zonal studies have lead to the Ł4 million Breda South watermain project and will lead to further planned watermain improvements that will strengthen the network across the city. A new service reservoir at Upper Ballygomartin will also improve the strategic supply to the west of the city."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
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