Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering services, has been appointed by Northern Ireland Water to work on the first project announced as part of its Major Projects Partnership Framework—the improvement of Belfast Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW).
Stantec is operating as the civil engineering design consultant as part of the integrated ‘One Team’ of organisations alongside civil contractors, Kier-BAM, and process contractors, MWH Treatment, on the Northern Ireland Water project.
The Belfast WwTW upgrade—which is due to get underway mid 2024—forms an integral part of the Living with Water in Belfast Plan. The plan aims to deliver a long-term approach to drainage and wastewater management that will help protect the community from flooding, provide a cleaner and greener environment, and shows that Belfast remains open for business and investment.
The project began with an optioneering phase which saw Stantec’s team give recommendations for Northern Ireland Water backed by their extensive sector knowledge and experience working on award-winning wastewater treatment facilities.
Commenting on Stantec’s appointment to the project, Mark Carlisle, Stantec’s regional director–Ireland, said: “The Belfast WwTW project directly aligns with Stantec’s vision as a top-tier, multiservice consultancy, creating communities through delivering the most iconic projects in the UK and Ireland. We are delighted to work in collaboration with Northern Ireland Water, our integrated partners, and wider stakeholder groups. Together, we will develop industry-leading solutions on this transformational scheme, the first under the MPPF Framework, which will help address underinvestment in the region, unlock development constraints, and enable economic growth for Belfast.”
Scott Jackson, Stantec’s regional business lead, Water UK and Ireland, added: “As our urban areas develop, the impact and pressure from climate change is being felt across our water and wastewater networks. Ensuring the resilience of this vital infrastructure must be a key priority for all water companies looking to futureproof the communities they serve.
“As we support Northern Ireland Water’s Major Projects Partnership Framework, our teams’ cutting-edge thinking and experience will identify innovative opportunities for enhancement, and potentially unseen challenges to be addressed as the area develops.”
Adrian Black, Northern Ireland Water’s project manager for Belfast WwTW, added: “We are delighted to reach a key milestone with the appointment of this specialist ‘One Team’ for the extensive upgrade of Belfast WwTW, which is located in Duncrue. Due to constraints in investment over the past 20 years, many parts of the wastewater and drainage infrastructure serving greater Belfast are now having to operate at or over their original design capacity. Belfast WwTW plays a crucial role in supporting the city’s myriad of businesses and households on a daily basis and NI Water has been working hard to ensure that current Northern Ireland Environment Agency standards can be met.
“NI Water along with our Belfast-based project management consultants, McAdam Design, look forward to working with Stantec as part of the integrated team as this project progresses.”
