‘Significant capacity issues’ at water treatment works near Omagh

A CHRONIC lack of money for investment in water services is now preventing the future growth of several key villages in the Omagh area.

The stark warning came at a meeting between local councillors and Northern Ireland Water last week.

It comes amid concerns that housing development is being undermined in Tattyreagh, Seskinore and Drumquin because NIW doesn’t have the money to invest in the waste-water treatment works needed to accommodate new developments.

Officials from the organisation defended their position, saying that they assessed new projects based on need. They also highlighted schemes totalling around £5 million in the Omagh area.

Research presented by them showed that the majority of waste-water treatment works locally were encountering ‘significant capacity issues’.

But their spin on the situation was rejected by a succession of politicians.

Sinn Fein’s Anne Marie Donnelly said her local village of Drumquin now had zero capacity. She added that it didn’t look like there would be any more investment in waste-water treatment works any time soon.

“This is a very difficult mess and I am extremely disappointed at what we have been told by NI Water,” she said. “It is going to be very detrimental to our development here in Drumquin.”

Ulster Unionist councillor, Allan Rainey, warned that the growing demand for housing in Seskinore could not be met because of the lack of capacity in terms of the water infrastructure.

Sinn Fein councillor, Barry McElduff, pointed out that areas such as Tattyreagh were also being badly affected, while independent, Dr Josephine Deehan, said she was ‘truly horrified’ by the situation facing Omagh town.