New sewers bring relief to Belfast

Northern Ireland Water Service has awarded the Stormwater Management Works contract, a three-year, £91.8m scheme to upgrade Belfast’s sewerage system, to

and

.

Under the terms of the deal, the companies will design, build, test and commission a 9.4km tunnel, up to four metres in diameter, under the city centre to the Duncrue Wastewater Treatment Works. The contract also involves the construction of a 16m³/sec capacity Terminal Pumping Station housed inside a 40m diameter underground structure, a new 6,000m³ stormwater tank and marine outfall.

The modernisation of the city’s sewerage system, which supports 250,000 people in the greater Belfast area, will result in improvements to both the water quality of the River Lagan and other watercourses. Flooding within Belfast city will also be reduced.

The Water Service, part of Northern Ireland's Department for Regional Development, is continuing a huge investment programme to bring Belfast’s aged sewers up to date, the oldest of which was constructed in 1888.

Morgan Est is due to start work on the project this month.