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NI Water has started work to build a wastewater treatment facility in Ballygowan, which the company said exemplifies what can be achieved with greater investment.
It will spend £6.4 million on the programme to improve wastewater and allow for further economic growth and development in the area as well as bringing environmental benefits.
Infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon said the investment was important to support economic growth and protect the environment. “Continued investment in the water and wastewater services throughout Northern Ireland is essential to improve this critical infrastructure, which has become even more vital recently in helping us to ensure the protection of public health in the current pandemic.”
NI was keen to defend the increase in its spending allowance from April this year after previous price controls left the business underfunded and unable to carry out maintenance and new projects.
It said the work at Ballygowan is “an excellent example of what can be done when the necessary funding is in place”.
The company said the “inescapable reality” was that funding from the Utility Regulator for its price review was required to fulfil the vision of economic expansion in the country. “This is not a ‘wish list’ or a ‘nice to have’; this is the plan that will help us ensure NI Water can deliver in a strong, modern regional economy.”
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