£18m water investment in pipeline for Cookstown
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
NORTHERN Ireland Water (NI Water) has announced a £18 million investment programme in Cookstown to improve water and wastewater services in the area.
The investment, announced at Cookstown District Council meeting last night (Tuesday), relates to a number of schemes that are already underway or planned to commence within this financial year.
The investment programme will bring significant benefits to the local community and economy and meet the needs of the growing population and tourism industry. The work includes the upgrade of Cookstown and Pomeroy Wastewater Treatment Works, Watermains rehabilitation and the upgrade of a storm sewer to serve a new housing development in the Chapel Street area.
Chris Mellor, NI Water's Chairman and Chief Executive commented on the investment in Cookstown: "NI Water's main concern is updating the water system and providing a quality water and wastewater system. This level of investment in Cookstown is part of our commitment to bring water and wastewater services in Northern Ireland up to the highest possible standard both in terms of quality and cost. Our focus is very much on safeguarding public health and the environment and enhancing customer services.
“I am confident that over the next few years this investment will bring tremendous sustainable benefits to households, local industry, businesses and tourism. The more public support we have, the easier our job is and that's why we're working hard to help people understand just what is involved in providing these vital services."
Speaking about the investment package during last night's meeting, Marie White, Head of Customer Services continued: "NI Water has earmarked a number of projects to begin within the next year to improve services provided to customers in the Cookstown area.
“There is an urgent need to address the issues arising from the legacy of under-investment to enable us to match or exceed performance levels of similar UK water companies by 2015. For a number of reasons, money that should have been spent on water and sewerage down the years was not.NI Water is now addressing this issue in a fundamental way that will produce real benefits for our customers in the future."
The investment programme in Cookstown is a prime example of the type of investment required to improve the water and sewerage infrastructure throughout Northern Ireland.
By 2010 NI Water will have invested £492 million in wastewater treatment and collection systems and £174 million in water treatment and storage systems.
