The utility is investing £6.4 million to refurbish and enhance the safety of the impounding reservoir portfolio, ensuring NI's reservoirs comply with the highest standards and meet the requirements of the Reservoirs Act (NI) 2015.
Work has got underway on the first projects under this programme with improvements at Seagahan and Silent Valley reservoirs. This programme will continue until September 2024 and cover 36 major reservoirs across the region.
Welcoming the new programme, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said: "This £6.4million investment in local reservoirs is an excellent example of what can be done with the necessary funding in place. It is important that funding levels are sustained throughout PC21 to ensure that NI Water can continue the Reservoir investment programme to maintain water supply as well as ensuring compliance with the forthcoming reservoir safety legislation."
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BSG is carrying out work on the programme on behalf of NI Water, with AECOM serving as project manager.
Mark Richardson, NI Water Senior Project Manager added: "Our impounding reservoir portfolio plays a critical role in the storage of raw water for future supply to our customers. NI Water is committed to the highest standards of reservoir safety and management and we are progressing with this key programme of maintenance and refurbishment work to future-proof our impounding reservoirs to continue to provide a world-class water supply service for our customers.
"These improvements will also ensure our compliance with the requirements of the forthcoming Reservoirs Act, which is regarded as industry best practice in the supervision and maintenance of large reservoirs.
"The enhancements cover a wide range of the reservoir components, including refurbishment of control valves, installation of drainage, repairs to spillway structures and improvement to monitoring equipment to ensure the safe and appropriate management of the reservoirs. This ensures the safety of these significant structures is maintained."
