The £18.5million facility will serve a population of 150,000 from Culmore and the surrounding areas.
Speaking at the event, Conor Murphy said, “This investment will ensure that this facility supports the growth and ongoing development within the local area, while protecting the environment.
“Northern Ireland Water (NIW) is investing £780million in water and sewerage services over the next three years. This means that £1.5billion will have been invested in the six years up to 2010. Investment in wastewater treatment and collection systems will help to provide cleaner beaches and rivers, meet European standards, respond to increasing demand and provide the region with a modern service.
“Today we face the challenge of how we will fund our water and sewerage services to provide the infrastructure necessary for the twenty-first century. I welcome the Executive’s decision to conduct a review which will seek to find sustainable and acceptable funding arrangements for water and sewerage services in the future.”
Chris Mellor, Chairman of NIW, said: “The new facility is just one example of the scale of investment required to improve water and sewerage infrastructure. We are delighted the Minister has been able to attend so he can see first hand the impact such projects have on the local community.”
This is a design and build project with NIW working in partnership with Dawson WAM, Black and Veatch and Mcadam Design.
Notes to Editors:
- Culmore Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) was established in 1979 to serve the City of Derry and treats sewage from catchments stretching from Prehen and Maydown to Foyle Rd and Culmore in the east. The original plant had a capacity of 56 ML/day of raw sewage which, with the current upgrading works has increased the capacity to 70 ML/day.
- By 2014, £30million will have been invested in upgrading small wastewater works serving small local communities.
- The number of wastewater treatment works meeting their discharge standard will increase from 83.9% in 2006 to 91% by the end of 2009.
- The number of people served by compliant wastewater treatment works has risen from 63% in 2004 to 77% in 2006. This will rise to 94% by the end of 2009.
- Media queries to: Michaela Smyth, Department for Regional Development, Press Office, 02890 540887.
