Northern Ireland Water

Helping treat wastewater and sludge in Northern Ireland

There was an urgent need in Northern Ireland for improvement in the treatment of wastewater and to find a solution for the lack of sludge disposal capacity.

The challenge

Deliver fully compliant wastewater treatment to 20% of the population of Northern Ireland and sludge disposal to 100% of the population while providing capacity to support commercial and industrial development.

The solution

Glen Water, a 50/50 joint venture between Veolia and Laing O’Rourke, was awarded a design, build, finance and operate (DBFO) contract by Northern Ireland Water in 2006.

The contract, known as Project Omega, improved six existing sites, constructed one new wastewater treatment plant and one new sludge incinerator in order to provide high quality treated effluent and a sustainable solution for Northern Ireland’s wastewater sludge.

The contract also involves longer-term operations and maintenance of the facilities which Veolia carries out.

Veolia continues to work with Northern Ireland Water to deliver continuous improvements. Veolia uses cutting-edge management solutions to deliver cost savings through resource efficiency and optimisation of systems and processes. Our approach has delivered a 14% reduction in O&M costs, a 26% reduction in equipment maintenance costs and a 7% reduction in energy costs.

Value delivered

Project Omega has delivered significant improvement in water quality entering Northern Ireland’s rivers, loughs and the sea which provides benefits to the community and the local economy.

Operations across the whole of the project are now in accordance with the Urban Waste Water Directive, Bathing Water Directive, the Shellfish Conservation Directive Waste and Management Licence conditions.

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