A £5 million project from NI Water has seen a number of major sewers upgraded across Belfast.

The project has officially reached completion, following works in the Ormeau Avenue/Lower Ormeau Road, Dublin Road, Bruce Street, Sandy Row and Joy Street areas of the city. 

This scheme will play a major role in facilitating further development within this area of Belfast City Centre. It will also reduce the risk of out of sewer flooding, minimise blockages within the existing sewers, while improving water quality in the River Lagan.

Sara Venning, NI Water CEO, said: "We are delighted to have completed this significant investment within this area of Belfast City Centre. This has been a challenging project and we are pleased to have delivered the benefits of reduced flood risk and environmental improvement, whilst also providing additional capacity to support economic development within this area of the city.

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"Just last week, we called for further investment in our water and sewerage infrastructure. The growth of Belfast City, the primary economic engine of Northern Ireland, will struggle unless the £1bn investment in strategic drainage, under the Living with Water Programme, is supported. The City Deal risks not realising its full potential. Put bluntly, no drains means no cranes. The Ormeau project is an excellent example of what can be done when the necessary funding is in place."

Welcoming the investment, John Finucane, Lord Mayor of Belfast, added: "It will help our city to flourish and allow for an increase in development which is essential for the future economic development of our city. We support NI Water in its quest for continued investment in our sewerage infrastructure, which will help the population, the economy and the natural environment thrive and develop over the next 25 years."

(CM/JG)