Work Starts On Construction Of New Ł900,000 Glassdrumman Wastewater Treatment Works

24 March 2005
WORK STARTS ON CONSTRUCTION OF NEW Ł900,000 GLASSDRUMMAN WASTEWATER TREATMENT WORKS
DRD Water Service today announced the start of construction work for a new Ł900,000 Wastewater Treatment Works to serve the village of Glassdrumman in Co. Armagh.

Welcoming the announcement Regional Development Minister, John Spellar, MP, said:
"The new Glassdrumman Works is part of a significant investment to upgrade Northern Ireland's water and sewerage infrastructure. Government has allocated around Ł735 million up to 2008 to build on the good progress already made towards providing modern services that will meet customers needs well into the future.

"We need Ł3 billion over the next 20 years to protect public health, meet European standards on water quality and respond to increasing demand. Without water and sewerage charges we cannot sustain this investment, unless we take money away from other priority services."

Trevor Haslett, Director of Development said:
"This is one of a significant number of wastewater treatment facilities, where work is due to commence over the next three years and demonstrates Water Service's commitment to protecting the environment. The scheme will improve the quality of treated effluent discharge, ensuring compliance with EU standards.

"The population in Glassdrumman has increased and the new Works will allow for any future development. The scheme will involve the construction of a new wastewater treatment works on the existing site and work is scheduled to take six months to complete."

The design for the new works will also allow an increase in capacity of up to 50%, if this is necessary in the future.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Glassdrumman is a small village located approximately 20.0 km west of Newry in Co Armagh. The present population of Glassdrumman is approximately 100 people. It is anticipated that this figure will rise to 200 within the lifetime of the new works.

2. This scheme will be carried out under a partnering contract between Water Service and the Main contractor S.Gillan of Maghera.

3. For further information contact Anne McGivern, DRD Press Office, (028) 9054 0004.

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