6 December, 1999

NEW SCHEME WILL ALLEVIATE OMAGH FLOODING PROBLEMS

Localised flooding problems at Campsie Crescent in Omagh will be alleviated when improvements to the drainage of the area are complete, Water Service said today.

Exceptionally heavy rainfall at the end of last week caused the water level of the River Strule to rise substantially. Storm water in the drainage system, which would ordinarily discharge into the river, was unable to drain away and flooding resulted.

Staff and equipment from the Department for Regional Development’s Water Service and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s River Agency were on site from early on Friday and continued to work until river levels started to recede.

As part of the planned improvements, a scheme to construct a storm water pumping station and related sewerage system is underway.

The new sewerage system draining to the station has been constructed at a cost of over £100,000 and design work on the storm water pumping station is complete.

Land acquisition negotiations are on-going and, once successful, the remainder of the scheme is likely to be completed within six to nine months.

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