A £10 million wastewater programme in Belfast has reached a major project milestone.

Phase one of continued investment at Belfast Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW) has officially reached completion, protecting the environment, supporting development and aiding economic growth in the city. The extended wastewater treatment works will now have the capability of accommodating a population equivalent of almost half a million people.

Led by NI Water, the works involved the construction of two new treatment tanks at the Duncrue Road site to cope with current and short-term future wastewater requirements.

Welcoming the scheme, Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd said: "This £10m scheme is an essential and welcome investment for Belfast Wastewater Treatment Works which plays a crucial role in treating wastewater safely. This will help to pave the way for building much needed homes, creating jobs and growing our economy.

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"This project is one part of the Living With Water Programme (LWWP) which addresses how we can work together to deliver integrated sustainable solutions to protect against flooding, enhance the water environment and provide the increased capacity needed for economic growth."

Mark Brownlee, Senior Project Manager at NI Water added: "Due to constraints in investment over the past 20 years, many parts of the wastewater and drainage infrastructure serving greater Belfast are now having to operate at or over their original design capacity.

"The two new treatment tanks that have been completed here will provide much-needed additional secondary treatment capacity and augment the existing process to ensure that the discharge to Belfast Lough remains compliant with Northern Ireland Environment Agency standards. The new assets will also facilitate essential improvements within the associated sewerage networks and will enable maintenance works to be undertaken in the other treatment tanks at a future date.

"This significant investment by NI Water will ensure our key wastewater treatment works for Belfast remains compliant, in advance of the next phase of the main 'Living With Water Programme' commencing."

This phase of work was completed by Murphy Dawson-Wam JV, with McAdam Design providing project management support.