ROTARIANS BRIEFED ON WATER TREATMENT WORKS 

At the weekly meeting of Donaghadee Rotary Club on 27.7.06 President Mark Brooks introduced two guest speakers to the members and their invited guests. They were Peter Dew Project Leader for Project OMEGA and Gordon Topham Project Manager of Pipelines and Pumping Stations for the project

Peter gave an overview of Project Omega, which is a Private Finance Initiative Project for N.I. Water Service. The building costs and running costs of the project will be paid for by the parent company Glen Water for 25 years. Water service pay the parent company a charge for every unit of sewage treated over the 25 years, which will cover the building and running costs 

Glen Water is a 50/50 joint venture between Thames Water and Laing O’Rourke to provide the funding for the project. Glen Water has offered a 50/50 joint contract to Thames Water and Laing O’Rourke to build the project. Glen Water has issued another contract to Thames Water to operate the project for 25 years. 

Project Omega includes a state of the art Water Treatment Works at Donaghadee to serve 110,000 people, 20 km of new pipelines, three deep large diameter-pumping stations and a new sludge incinerator at Duncrue St Belfast. The project also includes an upgrade of existing mains and work at Craigavon 

The construction of the Water Treatment Works at Donaghadee has to be completed by 20/7/07 then tested and be up and running by 21/7/08 in time for an E U Directive coming into force. The company face heavy penalties if the work is not completed on time. Fortunately for Donaghadee Rotarians the plant will not be completed before President Mark Brooks term of office is at an end. Otherwise in keeping with his promise to get the club out and about he would be likely to arrange a club meeting in one of the treatment tanks.  

Peter explained that sewage from Bangor would be pumped to the new pumping station at Briggs Rock and then to the WTW at Donaghadee.

Sewage from the new pumping stations at Donaghadee and Millisle would also be pumped to the new WTW at Donaghadee.

At the WTW at Donaghadee the sewage will be treated to full E U standards for Secondary treatment i.e. settlement followed by biological treatment a sequential batch process to remove nasty bugs and final clarification before discharge. There will be additional treatment facilities to achieve tertiary treatment in the coming years as needed to meet E U legislation i.e. a further process to improve the final effluent.

There should be no smell from the WTW, as the outgoing air will be chemically treated. The WTW will be about the same height as the old carpet factory but will be hidden from view by landscaped grass banks and trees.  

The treated sewage will be pumped to Briggs Rock Pumping Station and then into Belfast Lough 1 km from the shoreline. Tankers will carry the sludge from the WTW at Donaghadee to the Duncrue St incinerator 2/3 times a day. At the incinerator the sludge will be converted to electricity and fed into the National Grid.  

Gordon Topham then explained that they hoped to lay 20 meters of pipe every day but that some 50 meters of road etc would be open at any one time. He went on to say that they were mindful of the disruption likely to be caused, as the pipeline will run through the middle of Donaghadee. In view of the fact that there would be road closures they wanted to consult with local traders and residents in connection with this aspect of the process. The company are hoping to appoint a local community liaison person to help iron out any difficulties 

At the end of the presentation Peter and Gordon answered a range of questions from members and guests. They issued an invitation for anyone to call at the Water Treatment Works site and speak to them in an effort to dispel some of the rumours presently circulating 

Rotarian Mike Camlin moved a vote of thanks to Peter and Gordon on their clear presentation and on the fact that they gave their audience the opportunity to ask questions which were answered well 

On Friday night President Mark led the Rotary contingent taking part in Hugh Bells Wee Walk from Donaghadee to Groomsport to raise funds for the fight against cancer

On Sunday over 100 people enjoyed the Family Fun Day at Donaghadee Rugby Club a joint venture between the Rotary Club and North Down Cycle Club. The members of the Rotary Club would like to thank the Police and members of North Down Cycle Club for their assistance with the marshalling of the cycle run.

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