NORTHERN Ireland Water (NI Water) has unveiled plans for a significant £5 million investment to upgrade the Loughmacrory Water Treatment Works, addressing long-standing infrastructure concerns in the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area.

This decision comes after the Council expressed disappointment over delays in implementing a larger storage facility initially projected to cost between £9 million and £10 million.

In a detailed response to the Council, Sara Venning, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Water, acknowledged the challenges encountered in acquiring land and securing planning permissions for the larger facility.

“Regrettably, these issues will not be resolved in time to start building the scheme within the PC21 Period,” Ms. Venning stated, referencing the regulatory period from 2021 to 2027.

To mitigate potential disruptions and enhance the resilience of water supply, NI Water has prioritised an alternative interim solution.

The planned £5 million upgrade focuses on enhancing the Loughmacrory high lift Water Pumping Station, situated within the existing Water Treatment Works site, thereby circumventing the need for land acquisition and the associated planning hurdles.

This investment is part of the broader PC21 Final Determination Business Plan, which initially allocated £3.3 million in today's prices for infrastructure improvements.

Ms. said the strategic importance of treated water storage across Northern Ireland, noting that service reservoirs (SR) play a crucial role in maintaining supply resilience.

“Treated water is stored in Service Reservoirs across Northern Ireland to allow for maintenance at Water Treatment works and to buffer daily demand peaks,” she explained.

This system ensures that customer supply interruptions remain infrequent despite varying levels of storage resilience across the region.

The Loughmacrory upgrade aims to bolster the water supply zone's resilience without the immediate need for new land, providing a critical interim solution while long-term plans for a larger storage facility remain on the agenda. “NI Water is committed to delivering the scheme for a larger Loughmacrory Hill SR as early as possible, dependent upon successful land purchase and receipt of planning permission,” she assured.

The Council's initial letter highlighted the members' disappointment with the interim solution and sought details on the financial discrepancies between the proposed upgrade and the original larger scheme.