Regional Development Minister Michelle McIlveen has announced the start of work on Stage 2 of NI Water’s sewerage rehabilitation work in the Comber area.

It is anticipated that the work on the Comber Sewer Rehabilitation Project will take approximately six months to complete.

The programme of work in Comber is part of NI Water’s ongoing Sewerage Rehabilitation Programme throughout the province which represents an investment of approximately £18 million to improve an ageing sewerage network across Northern Ireland over a period of six years.

Once both stages are complete, the project will provide the local community with improved sewerage systems that are less prone to failure from blockages and sewer collapses and will also reduce the risks of ‘out of sewer’ flooding and environmental pollution.”

Mark Sefton, NI Water Project Manager commented:

“This project will involve essential sewer improvement work which was identified under the investigation work carried out in Stage 1 of the project. The work may include localised repairs, the installation of “liners” in existing sewers, replacing sewers which are beyond their natural lifespans as well as other associated work.”

“Where possible, the work will be carried out using specialist “no-dig” or “low-dig” methods, which are designed to minimise disruption and the duration of the work. However it will be necessary at some locations to relay pipes by traditional “open-dig” methods."

NI Water’s contractor, GRAHAM Construction is carrying out the work.