NI Water was delighted to recently welcome Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins on site to view the ongoing work at Annsborough Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW), outside Castlewellan, Co. Down.

An extensive £8m programme of work was announced at the start of the year to upgrade the facility and parts of the associated sewerage network. The upgrade work, which is taking place within the confines of the existing plant, is being carried out in phases over two years, ensuring that the treatment works remains operational.

The village of Annsborough and town of Castlewellan have seen significant development since the existing Wastewater Treatment Works was constructed in 2008. To ensure that this key NI Water asset can continue to operate effectively and meet current environmental discharge consents, various elements within the treatment facility need to be replaced.

The improvements at Annsborough WwTW will be supported by an extensive programme of work to improve the wastewater network in Annsborough and Castlewellan. This will reduce the pressure on the existing network and help reduce the risk of out-of-sewer flooding. A series of localised sewer repairs, also included in the scheme, will provide a more robust system to further protect the environment.

This first phase of the essential scheme will provide a modern treatment facility to meet important environmental standards and it will lay the foundation for a second phase of improvements to increase the capacity of the treatment works. Phase two will proceed once funding and planning have been secured.

The main contractor for the upgrades is Maghera-based BSG Civil Engineering, supported by Belfast-based McAdam.

ENDS 

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