NIW urged to address plans for sewage plant

NIW urged to address plans for sewage plant

7 September 2016

NORTHERN Ireland Water has been urged to press ahead with plans to upgrade Dundrum’s sewage treatment plant.

Last year, the organisation completed work on a £550,000 investment at the Newcastle Road plant and adjoining sewerage networks, with work continuing to develop additional schemes to allow the facility to cope with new development in the village over the next three decades.

Engineers are working on a so-called sewer modelling project which will develop design options to upgrade the existing sewerage system in line with criteria set by the Environment Agency.

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie and SDLP colleagues Colin McGrath MLA and Councillor Mark Murnin are keen for the work to upgrade the plant to be completed as quickly as possible.

The MP has been pressing NI Water to push ahead with improvements in Dundrum to ensure the sewerage infrastructure can cope with new development and population growth.

“Some years ago, NI Water intimated to housing authorities and other public bodies that the sewerage works would not be able to accommodate any additional housing,” recalled Miss Ritchie.

“To ensure the required works will meet future capacity I, along with members of the Dundrum Development Association, have been urging NI Water to accelerate improvements at the plant.

“Over the past few months, NI Water has informed me that the outcome of an appraisal report which was been subject to much internal work  is not yet known. It is my understanding the organisation has to discuss the report internally and go to the Environment Agency for approval.”

Miss Ritchie said she has been advised the outcomes of the report should be known mid-October and confirmed she intends to press NI Water for “speedy outcomes” to ensure the required works are undertaken.

The MP added: “This work will accommodate required capacity for the increased and potential or predicted increase in the local population and its environs. Such population predictions are derived from ongoing census analysis.

“My colleagues, Colin McGrath and Mark Murnin, are also urging for capacity improvement works to be undertaken at the Dundrum plant and implemented at an early opportunity."