NI Water and its project team from GRAHAM and RPS have completed a major upgrade of Neillsbrook Wastewater Pumping Station ahead of programme.

The £845,000 NI Water investment saw the complete overhaul of the existing pumping station at Maine Fold, as well as some network improvements, to provide environmental protection and help maintain the water quality in the River Maine.

Speaking about the work, NI Water’s Project Manager, Paul Hamilton said:

“Most of the work took place in the vicinity of the existing pumping station at Maine Fold, where the existing underground tank was increased in size. New screening and mechanical and electrical equipment was also installed. The existing building at the Maine Fold site was partially demolished to reduce the footprint of the site, with the remainder of the building refurbished.

“As part of the wider improvements, two new manholes and interconnecting sewer were constructed off the green at Weirside to further strengthen the local wastewater network.”

The programme of work – which was completed a month early – was carefully planned to keep the existing pumping station operational at all times and avoid the need to build a new pumping station on a different site.

As well as delivering important environmental benefits in the area, NI Water said this significant investment will reduce the level of operational maintenance and callouts.

NI Water is planning to invest £2.2 billion during the current six-year PC21 period (2021/22 to 2026/27), with over £1 billion being invested in wastewater assets. However, according to the water company the full scale of the wastewater capacity issues across Northern Ireland will realistically take at least 12 - 18 years, or two to three Price Control periods, to address.

NI Water has once again emphasised that it is “therefore critical that the PC21 business plan is fully funded in line with the Utility Regulators final determination.”