Competition gets colourful at NI Water’s Ards North Wastewater Improvement Project

The annual caravanning season in Rosebank and Ballyferris Caravan Parks has kicked off with some friendly competition as local children took part in a colouring challenge and safety lessons, ahead of the outfall construction work getting underway at the beach at Ballyferris as part of NI Water’s £18m Ards North Wastewater Improvement Project.

Everyone was given a goodie bag which included a refillable water bottle as well as lots of simple safety advice from Farrans and NI Water.

Pictured is competition winner Maisie Ross who shared her prize with her sister Lucia Ross along with Christine McAllister, Project Communications Manager at NI Water, Rebecca Pennell, Site Engineer at Farrans, and Sarah Heffernan, Community Benefit Coordinator at Farrans.

The Ards North Wastewater Improvement Project represents an £18m investment by NI Water to upgrade the existing wastewater collection and treatment systems serving a large part of the Ards Peninsula to bring about social, economic and environmental benefits. Farrans Construction alongside Marine Specialists Limited will be installing the new outfall pipe.

The extensive project involves the rationalisation of the Carrowdore, Ballywhiskin and Ballywalter catchments so that all wastewater flows from these areas are transferred to a new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment works (WwTW) being constructed off the Ganaway Road in Ballywalter. In addition to these catchments, the new treatment works has been designed to treat wastewater flows from nearby caravan parks and small settlements.

The effluent from the WwTW will be treated to strict environmental standards and will flow to a new long sea outfall. To achieve excellent bathing water quality at local beaches, the outfall discharges 550m offshore where the treated effluent is dispersed and diluted in 4m depth of seawater. The new wastewater treatment infrastructure will support long-term economic growth in local development and tourism. Additionally, the investment will deliver environmental improvements, including cleaner beaches and bathing waters, which will benefit all those living, working or visiting this scenic part of the Ards Peninsula.