Northern Ireland WaterQUESTOR Centre, QUB

Introduction: UK Water Industry25 water companies in England & Wales

12 water and sewerage providers13 water suppliers

Scotland and N Ireland: 1 water and sewerage provider each

Water UKRepresents the UK water industry at a national and

European levelEngages with governments, regulators and

stakeholders at national and international levels to develop policy ensure provision of a high-quality, value-for-money service

Northern Ireland WaterNI Water is the trusted and reliable provider

of the regions most essential public serviceRegion size, 14,000km2

Population of region <1.8millionNI Water aims to

deliver the best quality drinking water to homes

treat and dispose of wastewater safely: essential for protection of public health and the environment

The service – water supplyWater Supply must comply with standards

laid out in European Union, UK and Northern Ireland legislation

The Drinking Water Inspectorate – an arm of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency - independently audits quality of drinking water in N Ireland

The service - wastewaterWater is discharged from

water treatment workswastewater treatment workscombined sewer overflows on sewerage

systems emergency overflows from sewage pumping

stationsThis is regulated by the Water Regulation

Section of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency

Investment in Water IndustryAcute underinvestment in water and

sewerage systems in N Ireland has led to:Sewer floodingWater mains leakageImpact on quality of wastewater & drinking

waterPlans to invest £778 million in water and

wastewater infrastructure by 2010£174m in water treatment & storage facilities£614m in wastewater collection & treatment

systems

Storm water Management –Belfast Sewers ProjectCity of Belfast has a Victorian sewerage and

storm water system, resulting in:Regular floodingPollution of low-lying areasPollution of River Lagan

A long-term solution for water management is essential to enable growth and improvement of the city centre and its suburbs

Belfast is one of the fastest growing regional economies in the UK

Belfast Sewers Project£120m investment project to

improve water quality in the River Lagan and other smaller watercourses

reduce risk of flooding in the inner cityrehabilitate and upgrade sewer network to

ensure compliance with EU environmental legislative standards

Scheduled for completion in early 2010

How?Scheme will manage up to 4 million gallons of

wastewater along 1800km of sewers, impacting a population of 276,459

1. Sewer Rehabilitation Works500 sewers in poor condition will be upgraded

using state of the art low dig and no dig technology

2. Storm water Management WorksA new storm water tunnel: length 9.4 km, diameter

up to 4m19km of new sewers and 26 new storm water tanks

ImplementationWill take almost 7 years to complete: 2004-2011Community communications programme

Inform people well in advance of when work is expected in their area and how they might be affected

Will employ a combination of traditional and modern trenchless technology to lay new sewers or rehabilitate old sewers.

Tunnel Boring Machine – state of the art technology to bore a new storm water tunnel 34m underground

Construction of new storm water tanks

Sewer laying:Traditional open-cut technologyThe new sewer is laid with contractor excavating down from surface to lay the pipe.

Sewer laying/ rehabilitation: Modern trenchless technology

A bursting head is inserted to the existing sewer via an access pit which the contractor excavates from the surface.

The pipe is attached to the bursting head and is pulled along the existing sewer from one access pit to another.

Sewer rehabilitation: Cured in PlaceA liner is pulled in from one manhole (utility hole), along the sewer to the next manhole.The liner is hardened (by UV rays or hot water), and a robot sent up the pipe to cut open existing feeds to the pipe.

Tunnel Boring Machine (TMB)TBM is 90m longCan cut through the

toughest rock and sediment with its ripper teeth and disc cutters on the cutter head

Can move 150mm per minute at full capacity

Operates 34m below ground –progress is monitored by laser guidance and onboard computer controls

Tunnel Major road River Lagan Vertical Shaft (storm water

connections & access)

Terminal Pumping Station• Currently under construction over 30m below surface level at an existing waterworks site• Due for completion shortly, it will be capable of pumping 18,200 litres of water per second

•Regulate flow to existing wastewater treatment works•Transfer excess water to storm screens for treatment and discharge

Benefits of ProjectImproved water quality of River Lagan and

other watercoursesPollutant load will be reduced by 85%Potential for flooding in city will be reducedCompliance with the rigorous Urban

Wastewater Treatment DirectiveInward investment to the city will enhance

tourism, create a cleaner environment and will facilitate urban regeneration

Other Investment ProjectsWater Mains Project (£80 million)

Improvement of over 1000km of existing water mains throughout N Ireland

North Coast Wastewater Treatment Scheme (£45 million)Wastewater from urban areas will be collected and

transferred to a new 2-stage treatment works for treatment to a much higher standard before discharge through new long sea outfall point

Alpha ProjectUpgrading existing water treatment facilities at sites

representing 50% of the regions water production centres