£12m Derg water upgrade to safeguard supply for 40,000

A NEW £12m Waste Water Treatment Plant which was announced for West Tyrone recently is expected to safeguard the supply for upwards on 40,000 people.

Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon, travelled to the plant, which is located just outside Arstraw, to unveil the plans.

Work has already begun on the major scheme, which is intended to make the facility more efficient and help improve the removal of herbicides and organics from the local water supply.

The Minister said the project within the Derg network was “well overdue” as it had originally been built two decades ago in 2002.

“This investment is critical and is part of my pledge to address historic under-investment in our water and mains water infrastructure. This £12m investment will improve the water quality and water security for people living in Omagh, Strabane and Fermanagh,” she said.

“It’s really important that we have these improvements because water helps to build our economy and is also critical to building the many homes that we need across the north for families and in terms of tackling the climate emergency.

“NI Water are clear about the improvements that this will bring. We take our water for granted in many instances and do not realise the importance in terms of public health. We turn on our taps in the morning and just expect the water to be there, but it requires significant investment and work and that’s what we are doing today.

“There is a funding requirement of £2bn over the next six or seven years. I’m delighted that this year, for the first time in a long time, I am investing enough money to meet the requirements of the Utility Regulator. It is about improving drinking water, and security of supply, but also about ensuring that we have the capacity to be building our economy and homes.”

The project was also welcomed by NI Water’s Chief Executive, Sara Venning, who said it is one of the biggest investments in the water infrastructure and a great example of what can be done when the necessary funding is in place.

West Tyrone MLA, Maoliosa McHugh, said there was a clear need for improved water infrastructure.

“If the capacity does not exist within water treatment works, then you are not able to build houses and in turn not creating jobs for the local economy.

“That’s why it is so important for this kind of investment to build the infrastructure to enable the economy to grow,” he added.

SDLP West Tyrone MLA, Daniel McCrossan, also welcomed the scheme. He described it as a major boost for the Derg Valley area.

This plant supplies water to over 40,000 people across Strabane, Castlederg and Omagh at a rate of about 25m litres per day. This £12m investment in West Tyrone will improve the water quality at the plant, and help address the historic regional imbalance on investment in the west,” he added.

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