Comber Sewerage Infrastructure Upgrade

20 August 2013 12:29

NI Water is to carry out work to upgrade the old Ballystockart Pumping Main in Comber as part of their £2m Wastewater Pumping Stations Upgrade Project. Pipelaying work is due to get underway on Monday 2nd September at Ballystockart Pumping Station, located off the Belfast Road – which is also being extensively upgraded as part of the same contract – and will continue through private land at Ballyrainey Road, and along a section of the Comber Greenway over a period of approximately 4-5 weeks.

To minimise disruption to users of the Comber Greenway, pipelaying will be undertaken by directional drilling – a trenchless method of pipelaying that requires very little excavation.

Speaking about how the work will be carried out, Peter Ferguson, NI Water’s project manager for the scheme said: “Directional drilling is a low-dig method of construction whereby small pits are dug at intervals along the route and the pipeline pulled through. Access along the Greenway will be maintained at all times and any working areas will be fenced off. Signage has been erected along the Greenway to advise the general public of the forthcoming work which will be carried out as quickly as possible and with minimal disruption. NI Water and its contractor, Graham Construction, apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused during the installation of this new infrastructure and would urge the public to take care when passing any live construction areas.”

Commenting on the wider benefits of the work, Peter added: “This NI Water investment, being made as part of the Wastewater Pumping Stations Upgrade Project, will help reduce the risk of out-of-sewer flooding in the area and ensure that the integrity of this sewerage infrastructure is safeguarded for many years to come.”

If anyone has any queries about the work to be carried at Ballystockart Pumping Station or on the Comber Greenway please contact NI Water’s 24-hour Waterline on 08457 440088.