Date: 08 March 2007
Built Environment students and staff from the North Down and Ards Institute (NDAI)recently took part in an educational site visit of a new wastewater treatment facility, currently being built in Donaghadee.
Appointed by Water Service, under an advance works contract, Glen Water Ltd, a joint venture between two of the leading names in the UK and international water and construction industry, Thames Water and Laing O’Rourke, is currently constructing a new state-of-the-art Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) for the North Down/Ards area.
The students were invited to tour the WWTW site to learn more about the innovative construction techniques Glen Water is using to complete the project.
“This is our signature project for Northern Ireland, and we are committed to working in partnership with the local community to deliver a sustainable and reliable solution that will improve the water quality around the North Down and Ards area,” said Jim Conlon, Glen Water’s General Manager.
“By asking local students to come down and see, at first hand, the progress we have made so far, we are giving them a detailed insight into the unique construction challenges that this project presents and the solutions we have developed to meet them,” he continued.
The students were also given the opportunity to visit some of the local pumping stations in Millisle, Briggs Rock and Donaghadee that are also being re-developed, as part of the project.
“We would like to thank senior staff at Glen Water for taking time out of their busy schedules to organise this tour,” said Alan Bell, acting head of Built Environment at NDAI.
“By giving our students a detailed insight into the complex logistical requirements of this project and how they are being overcome, Glen Water is helping to enrich their education,” he continued.
The new WWTW will help Northern Ireland meet stringent EU regulations on wastewater treatment and safeguard the marine environment along the North Down/Ards coastline.
The facility, which has been designed with in-built odour control technology, will blend in with surrounding environment and greatly enhance the quality of local bathing water, upon completion at the end of 2007.
Photo Caption: Built Environment students William Matthews and Ricky Johnson from the North Down and Ards Institute (NDAI) are joined by Jim Conlon, General Manager, Glen Water at Brigg’s Rock pumping station.