Northern Ireland Water is on schedule for its innovative new £464,000 Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW) at Castle Archdale, County Fermanagh to be fully operational by the end of March 2016.
The Castle Archdale site is the second ICW to be constructed by NI Water and represents an eco-friendly fully sustainable approach to wastewater treatment in the area.
The investment has seen the construction of a series of shallow treatment ponds which when planted will treat wastewater from the Castle Archdale area. While the ICW will be operational in March, it is anticipated that rapid plant growth will continue over the forthcoming spring and summer period.
The Castle Archdale ICW contains just over 13,000metres² (3.25acres) of wetland ponds with around 8,500m² of gently sloping embankments and gravel paths.
Wastewater flows from the settlement pond through the densely planted treatment ponds under gravity flow. As the water progresses through each pond it becomes cleaner as pollutants are naturally removed.
Altogether the wetland planting comprises around 20,000 plants of emergent species within the treatment ponds and settlement ponds; native trees along the perimeter of the site and grass seeding.
The new wetland can accommodate seasonal fluctuations in flow and is therefore ideally suited to the Castle Archdale area. The ICW method has an established record in Europe of providing a low cost, low energy and low maintenance alternative to mechanical wastewater treatment. NI Water believes that this natural environmentally-friendly solution will accommodate the future development needs of the Castle Archdale area, while promoting a natural ecosystem.
Regional Development Minister Michelle McIlveen, who was on site recently to see how the scheme is progressing, commented:
“Progress on this sustainable project is very impressive. This scheme is an excellent example of how the challenge of dealing with wastewater can be met using an innovative engineering approach which provides added benefits for, and complements, the local indigenous ecosystem.”
“The ICW solution has been developed on natural treatment processes. This is the second occasion that this method has been used in Northern Ireland and it is an important and significant step towards the development of more environmentally-friendly solutions to wastewater treatment throughout Northern Ireland.”
The wetland design is based on the ICW approach pioneered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Ireland. There are many examples of ICWs throughout Ireland, one of the most well-known being at Castle Leslie, Glaslough in County Monaghan.
Dermott McCurdy, NI Water’s Head of Wastewater Capital Delivery added:
“NI Water is pleased to be able to improve wastewater services for customers in the Castle Archdale area through sustainable projects like this. The new ICW will deliver improved wastewater treatment, whilst creating an aesthetically-pleasing area, rich in biodiversity, and potentially an educational resource.
“NI Water will continue to liaise with the local community throughout this programme of work and look forward to implementing this new approach to wastewater treatment in the area.
The work is being undertaken by NI Water’s contractor Maghera-based BSG Civil Engineering and its chain of local sub-contractors and suppliers.
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