NI Water is progressing work on on its Stormwater Separation Programme with a project starting this week in the Henry Street area of Ballymoney to improve the resilience of the local wastewater network and reduce the risk of out-of-sewer flooding during heavy rainfall.
The work – which will see the installation of dedicated stormwater infrastructure - forms part of NI Water’s stormwater separation programme, which removes rainwater from combined sewers that carry both wastewater and surface (storm) water.
Much of the wastewater network serving residents and businesses across Northern Ireland is a combined system. Stormwater from gutters, drainpipes and gullies is collected in the same pipes and transferred to a wastewater treatment works before being cleaned and returned safely to the environment.
Stormwater does not require treatment – removing it from the combined network not only delivers efficiencies for NI Water but in certain cases, it can unlock the potential for development and economic growth.
Diverting rainwater into dedicated stormwater infrastructure helps free up capacity in the local sewerage system and reduces pressure on wastewater treatment works.
The Stormwater Separation Programme is being delivered in carefully planned stages, beginning with extensive investigations during the ECI phase. This includes CCTV surveys and detailed assessments of existing drainage systems to identify and resolve historic misconnections before construction begins.
This latest scheme in Ballymoney will see approximately 190 metres of new stormwater pipe and seven new manholes installed over an eight weeks period.
Robert McLean, NI Water Senior Project Manager said:
“The work in Ballymoney forms part of a wider NI Water investment to modernise wastewater infrastructure in areas facing network constraints, creating additional capacity to support sustainable development while improving resilience for local communities during periods of heavy rainfall.
“Our contractor, Civco, will strive to minimise disruption and complete the work in the shortest possible timeframe. NI Water and our project team from AtkinsRéalis and CivCo thank residents, businesses and road users for their patience and cooperation while we complete these essential improvements.”
Since the programme began in 2023, NI Water has removed over 166,000 square metres of surface water drainage from the combined sewer network. This has not only significantly reduced the pressure on the existing wastewater infrastructure but has freed up capacity for around 600 new homes across Northern Ireland.
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