NI Water has announced the start of work on the last bundle of improvements that will see the company complete 40 projects as part of its £10 million Rural Wastewater Investment Programme. The scheme, for which the first phase of funding continues until the end of March 2010, has been developed specifically to upgrade wastewater services in rural areas where the population is less than 250 people.

From Kilmood (Co. Down) to Kinawley (Co. Fermanagh) and from Myroe (Co. Londonderry) to Mullaghglass (Newry), NI Water has designed and implemented bespoke state-of-the-art wastewater treatment systems to replace ageing filtration units and septic tanks which over the years have become increasingly ineffective. The new fully enclosed hi-tech tanks offer advanced treatment processes, bringing the quality of treated effluent into line with the latest EU Directives.

The level of improvement is sophisticated enough to cater for development in some rural areas until at least 2018. Trevor Haslett, Director of Engineering Procurement at NI Water said:

“The Rural Wastewater Investment Programme is a complex portfolio of work spanning the length and breadth of Northern Ireland. Each project represents a significant investment in modernising wastewater treatment in rural areas to bring about environmental benefits for local communities. We appreciate that much of this improvement work has temporarily impacted upon private lands and we’d like to thank the tenants, residents and landowners who have accommodated our contractors during this essential work.

“Right across Northern Ireland, NI Water has been spending £1m every working day to ensure that our water and wastewater services are up to the highest possible standard and represent the very best value in terms of quality and cost. Our focus is on safeguarding public health and the environment and enhancing customer services.”

NI Water are working on the scheme in partnership with local companies, McAdam Design, BSG Civil Engineering and Williams Industrial Services.