DOUGLAS WATER TREATMENT WORKS PROGRESSING WELL

The new Douglas Water Treatment works is progressing well with the excavation currently one month ahead of schedule.

Already 15,500 cubic metres of soil and rock have been removed to provide the foundations of the filter block, leaving just 500 cubic metres yet to be excavated. There are three large 360º excavators (the largest of which is a 30 tonne machine with hydraulic rock pecker) being operated on site by sub-contractors JCK, there is also a fleet of 10 large lorries taking the soil and rock off site to the rock crushing plant just outside Peel. The first pour of blinding concrete is expected in the next month as much of the building is now down to foundation level.

The dry weather has undoubtedly helped progress: the site is dry and the rock is fracturing easily with a hydraulic pecker being used for the tougher sections.

Work on the access road, is also advancing at a commendable pace. The road is already down to formation level and the three new large diameter water pipes have been laid. The contractor’s site set up is developing steadily; the ground has been prepared and the new cabins for the on-site offices are due in mid September.

Once complete, the new water treatment works, off Homefield Road, near the Isle of Man College will replace the ageing Glencrutchery plant on Greenfield Road, Douglas. The new Works has been designed to treat up to 37 million litres of water a day and meet stringent water quality standards in compliance with the EU Drinking Water Directive and will serve Douglas, Onchan, Braddan, Marown and the South of the Island.

Patrick Heaton-Armstrong, Chief Executive of Isle of Man Water Authority, commented “This team is working to deliver the new works as soon as possible, but a realistic expectation for completion of this £25 million contract would be early 2008 with water going into supply later that year, so it is good to see such excellent progress at this early stage. Every effort will be made to minimise disruption throughout the construction period and we will ensure that residents in the vicinity of the site are kept well informed on progress throughout the construction programme.”

Patrick Heaton-Armstrong, Chief Executive, Isle of Man Water Authority Tel: 695949