New Ł9.4 Million Wastewater Treatment Works For Ballyclare

4 September 2006
NEW Ł9.4 MILLION WASTEWATER TREATMENT WORKS FOR BALLYCLARE
Water Service today opened a new Ł9.4 million state of the art Wastewater Treatment Works in Ballyclare.
The facility is the most advanced of its kind in Europe and will serve an estimated population of 26,450 from Ballyclare and the surrounding area.
At the official opening, the Chief Executive of Water Service, Katharine Bryan said: "This is one of a significant number of planned new and improved wastewater treatment facilities and demonstrates Water Service's commitment to protecting the environment and facilitating future development in this area.
"The advanced innovative technology gives a high quality final effluent, which will help safeguard the local environment for the people of Ballyclare and the villages of Doagh, Ballyrobert, Ballyeaston, Kilbride, Ballynure and Straid.
"The new facility is part of a significant investment to upgrade Northern Ireland's water and sewerage infrastructure. Water Service's Capital Investment Programme has allocated Ł714 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. This highlights the speed at which the improvements are taking place and Water Service is committed to delivering a world class service to the people of Northern Ireland."
The new facility will treat both commercial and trade wastewater at a rate of up to 154 litres per second.
The plant was designed and built by a joint venture between Biwater UK Ltd and Grahams Dromore Ltd with RPS/MWH as the Consulting Engineers. The project has attracted worldwide interest and a study paper will be presented at the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management Conference in Newcastle later this month.
NOTES TO EDITOR
1. The new Ballyclare Wastewater Treatment Works is a MBR (Membrane Bioreactor) facility, one of the largest in the UK and the first in Northern Ireland to use hollow fibre membrane.
2. Membrane Bio-Reactors (MBR's) are very fine filters through which the treated sewage is passed to give a high quality final effluent. These filters are so fine that they exclude bacteria & viruses from the final effluent as well as the bulk of suspended solids associated with sewage treatment.
3. For further information contact: Celine Rodgers, Water Service, Mobile: 07803 799339, E-mail:Celine.Rodgers@waterni.gov.uk or the DRD Press Office on 028 9054 0004.

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