Work on Northern Ireland's first Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW) is to be complete before the end of the year.

The Department for Regional Development, NI Water and its contractors BSG Engineering are carrying out the work on the £1.3 million scheme.

Construction work started in April this year on the environmentally friendly wetland site where wastewater is cleaned using a natural process.

ICWs are designed, built and operated through human technology and are based on processes that occur naturally within indigenous wetlands providing an environment where the plants such as Glyceria Maxima and Typha Latifolia themselves clean the water.

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Regional Development Minister, Danny Kennedy, said he is impressed with the progress that is being made.

Mr Kennedy said: "The current treatment works in Stoneyford is nearing the end of its useful life and the new replacement ICW will be a flagship project for NI Water and an industry-leading example of how wastewater treatment can be integrated into and complement a local indigenous ecosystem.

"The ICW approach has been developed on natural treatment processes. This is the first time that this innovative solution has been used for municipal purposes in Northern Ireland.

"This is an important and significant step towards the development of more environmentally-sustainable water treatment solutions."

(CD/MH)