NI Water has started construction work of a new long sea outfall at Ballyferris this month, as part of an ongoing programme of work to deliver water quality improvements along the Ards Peninsula.

The water  company is delivering the £18 million Ards North Wastewater Improvement Project with project managers TetraTech and contractors BSG and Farrans. The project is a major ongoing programme of work by NI Water to rationalise and upgrade the wastewater collection, treatment and transfer systems serving the villages of Carrowdore, Ballywhiskin and Ballywalter.

The 550m-long pipe, which will be buried on the beach and installed three metres below the seabed, forms part of the scheme. The outfall will be constructed off the coast at Ballyferris by local company Farrans, in association with Wexford-based Marine Specialists

Construction of a new wastewater treatment works (WwTW) in Ballywalter is at the centre of the Ards project .The state-of-the art facility, which is being undertaken by contractor BSG, will treat the wastewater to strict environmental standards before discharging the clean effluent out to sea via the new long sea outfall.

Welcoming the key milestone in the project, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said:

“The commencement of the long sea outfall at Ballyferris marks a key milestone in the £18m Ards North Wastewater Improvement Project.

“This significant investment by NI Water will ensure that wastewater is treated to a higher standard. This will bring environmental benefits including cleaner beaches and bathing waters. The sea outfall, which forms an integral part of the overall project, will help protect the scenic coastline and add to the tourism value of the Ards Peninsula.”

A large barge, which is currently being assembled in Bangor Marina, will be brought to Ballyferris in March to assist with work in the marine environment.

The brand-new barge has a platform area bigger than a tennis court, which will house all the machinery and equipment required to dig the trench in the marine environment.

The 550m-long outfall pipe will be assembled onshore in early April and towed out to Ballyferris once the trench has been fully excavated.

Damien McKeown, Project Manager for NI Water added:

“NI Water and our appointed local contractors are making huge strides on the Ards North Wastewater Improvement Project, with great progress being made on the construction of the new wastewater treatment works, pumping stations and pipelines.

“The new outfall pipe forms a critical part of the overall project and we are pleased that installation work is now underway with completion expected in summer 2022.

Once fully complete in 2023, the new wastewater infrastructure will support long-term economic growth in local development and tourism on the Ards Peninsula.