MDE are proud to have worked in partnership with AECOM Ireland, Siac Civil Engineering and Irish water to deliver the new water treatment plant in Meencrumlin, Co. Donegal. The project consisted of upgrading and expansion of an existing Water Treatment Plant from 5,500m3/day treatment capacity to 11,000m3/day treatment capacity.
The upgrading and expansion of the Main Treatment Plant involved the electrical services and instrumentation associated with: New Chemical Dosing System; Raw Water Flow Control and Flash Mixer/Flocculation Units; New Sedimentation Tanks and upgrading of existing Sedimentation Tanks using Inclined Tube Settlers; New Filters and upgrading of existing Filters and new pH Correction and Chlorination Systems. The project also included a new treatment facility for wastes arising from the treatment plant. This involved separating the filter backwash water from sludge bleed water, sludge thickening and final dewatering of the sludge using a plate press system.
The installation of electrical equipment and systems for water management is a complex and skilled area. We have developed considerable expertise in installing the electrical services, instrumentation, and technology required in modern water treatment works.
MDE were assigned as an electrical contractor for the Carnmoney Water Treatment Works to design, certify, install, and to test and commission all electrical, instrumentation and system integration plant and services.
Our contract also required that we decommission and disconnect existing electrical equipment, instrumentation, and services that were redundant, make them safe, and safely remove them from the site, disposing of them correctly and subsequent making good.
Works included process cable design, lighting design, fibre network installation, Profibus cable installation and termination, containment installations, distribution and wiring systems; general-purpose socket outlet, and fixed power services.
We installed internal and external lighting including, emergency lighting systems, and intruder detection and alarm systems. We also installed the telephone system, with associated bonding, earthing, and testing.
We were proud to be associated with Carnmoney Water Treatment Works, the largest in Northern Ireland. These upgrade works will greatly improve the existing facilities allowing for development and growth well into the 21st century.
Dunore Point is a 33-acre Northern Ireland Water treatment works on the shore of Lough Neagh in South Antrim. We were appointed as an electrical and instrumentation installation contractor on this major upgrade work.
Our success on this project and other projects of similar complexity within the water treatment sector has been underpinned by an innovative and effective partnership with the entire project team from the initial stages. Over recent years we have established a specialist team with extensive experience working on projects in the water industry. It is a key area of specialism within MDE.
The projected entailed upgrades on four existing WTW facilities with a total capacity of 400 Ml/d and the construction of three new link mains totaling 65 km at a combined capital cost of £110m.
The facilities are designed to provide NI Water with potable water to the most stringent quality and testing standards in Europe to serve 850,000 people, which is almost 50% of Northern Ireland’s population, until the year 2031.
The four WTW facilities are located at Dunore Point, Antrim (180 Ml/d), Castor Bay, Craigavon (147 Ml/d), Ballinrees, Coleraine (50Ml/d) and Moyola, Magherafelt (19 Ml/d).
MDE provided electrical and mechanical installations to the water industry for many years. During that time we have established considerable expertise and a very specialised understanding of the technology and installations that are required.
We understand, appreciate, and are equipped to deal with the specific challenges of working in this specialist area of work.
We were very proud to be contracted to be associated with the Culmore Waste Water Treatment Works. This was a new coastal facility, the second-largest in Northern Ireland, serving the population in the City of Derry, Northern Ireland’s second-largest city.
We completed the electrical install of all processes and controls and the building services installation. The entire project was completed on time and within the contract budget. The Culmore facility is a state-of-the-art ‘total nitrogen waste water plant’ with a new sludge dewatering centre.
The Culmore Works will benefit the local population and the environment, while ensuring that wastewater treatment in the Culmore area complies with all current Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and European regulations.
The Castor Bay Water Treatment Works was a very high profile and prestigious project for NI Water, requiring a contractor with considerable expertise and experience in this sector.
Working in the water industry requires very highly skilled staff. Health and safety concerns are of paramount importance. Our teams of electrical experts are trained to the highest standards and have built up considerable experience over a considerable number of high-value projects. We have a very detailed understanding of the instrumentation, technology, and electrical installation required for specialist projects of this nature.
MDE were appointed as an electrical and instrumentation installation contractor on this major upgrade work on four existing water treatment works with a total capacity of 400 Ml/d and the associated construction of three new link mains totaling 65 km at a combined capital cost of £110m.
The facilities will provide NI Water with potable water to the most stringent quality and testing standards in Europe and will enable them to serve almost 50% of Northern Ireland’s population (approx 850,000) until the year 2031. The four WTW facilities are located at Dunore Point, Antrim (180 Ml/d), Castor Bay, Craigavon (147 Ml/d), Ballinrees, Coleraine (50Ml/d) and Moyola, Magherafelt (19 Ml/d).
We completed the electrical installation of all processes and controls coupled with complete building services installation for the site. This was a significant project to provide drinking water to over half the local population. We completed all works on time and within budget by engaging in innovative and effective partnerships with the entire project team.
We carried out electrical installation works at both Ballinrees and Castor Bay Water Treatment Works, two sister schemes that we completed concurrently.
These were complex and challenging installations and benefited significantly from the skills of our expert team. Ballinrees is one of the Project Alpha Water Treatment PPP schemes for Northern Ireland Water Service established following the launch of their upgrade of four major existing water treatment facilities in the region.
The two schemes are also part of the first UK PPP project to address the supply of potable water to homes. The existing water treatment works at Ballinrees were upgraded to a new, fully refurbished 30Ml/day facility with extended treatment operations. We carried out contract works on an existing live site coupled with complete building services installation.
We completed the electrical installation of all processes and controls coupled with the building services for the site. This was a very significant and complex assignment that we completed on time and within budget with the MDE personnel playing their full part as part of an innovative and effective partnership with the entire project team.
‘Project Alpha’ is worth £20 million in total, and it is one of the largest high profile waste water projects for the Department of Regional Development in Northern Ireland.
Fofanny is a state-of-the-art fully integrated water treatment works that supplies around 100,000 consumers across south County Down every day.
The works are located in the heart of the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
We were contracted to complete the electrical installation and instrumentation services at this unique clean water project which had an overall value of £18 million. It is a new underground facility that provides potable water for 100,000 people, fed with water from the Fofanny Dam Reservoir.
MDE carried out the complete electrical install of all processes and controls coupled with the complete building services installation for the site.
It is a point of particular pride to have been appointed as an electrical and instrumentation contractor on this, the most unique water treatment facility ever built – a 52Ml/d works constructed completely underground. Our choice as a contractor signals our expertise and reputation in the water industry. The £18m design and build project is the first of its kind in Ireland.
Fofanny’s forward-thinking and environmentally friendly design was centred around the fact that the works are located in the heart of the Mourne Mountains, a designated ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’; part of the Countryside Policy Area and a candidate for National Park status. It was judged “highly commended” by Business in the Community through the George Dawson Award.
The project was completed on time and within the contract budget. Particular challenges included the adverse location with attendant difficult and exposed weather conditions. We were also required to work in full compliance with environmental and safety constraints.
The Belfast Trunk – Sprucefield Pumping Station is one of the biggest NI Water pipeline schemes to be undertaken in recent times.
MDE Team appointed with specific responsibility for the electrical, power, control and instrumentation of electrical services to the infrastructure upgrades of this contract, all of which are linked to the new pipeline.
This work included the re-commissioning of local service reservoirs which were out of operation at Danescroft and St. Andrew’s, both in Lisburn; the upgrade of the existing Castor Bay Water Pumping Station in Craigavon; the construction of a new water pumping station at Sprucefield (Lisburn) and a new water pumping station at the refurbished St. Andrew’s Service Reservoir.
Together the two new pumping stations had the capacity to deliver 55ML/d while the re-commissioned service reservoirs at Danescroft and St. Andrew’s will have a combined capacity of 10ML.
We are proud to be associated with the successful delivery of this major NI Water Infrastructure Upgrade. It gave us the opportunity to once again demonstrate our specialist expertise in a project of this scope and scale.
Project Challenges at a Glance
MDE Team were appointed as an electrical contractor to install all electrical and instrumentation services within the new Castlecaulfield Waste Water Treatment Works.
The new plant was constructed on the site of the existing works, and our work and commissioning were phased in order to keep the works operational.
The process comprised of inlet works with CSO, screening equipment, and separate grit and grease removal equipment; two primary settlement tanks, two rotating biological contactors, and two final settlement tanks, final effluent return pumping station (during low flows).
The works also contain a sludge treatment process including sludge holding tank and return liquors pumping station, blind and online stormwater holding tanks, ancillary plant including service water, and final effluent booster sets. Our work included a motor control centre building and an emergency standby generator and site-wide building services.
Our managerial knowhow and site personnel experience ensured that the operational works on this contract were phased and commissioned accordingly. The project was completed within stringent health and safety requirements and environmental constraints.
Dorisland Water Treatment Works at Carrickfergus serves 30,000 customers in the Carrick area as well as supplying Islandmagee, Newtownabbey and north Belfast.
MDE Team were selected as the electrical contractor on this project based on our experience and expertise in working in water infrastructure.
Our role was to design, certify, and install all electrical, instrumentation, and system integration plant and services. We also decommissioned and removed all redundant electrical equipment.
All new installations were tested and commissioned. This included process cable design, fibre network, and Profibus cable installation and termination. Also, containment installations, and distribution and wiring systems were completed, as were general-purpose socket outlet and fixed power services.
Lighting design including internal, external, and emergency lighting systems, as well as intruder detection and alarm systems. We also installed the telephone system.
We were appointed due to our established experience in the water industry and our portfolio of completed large scales projects of a similar scale and complexity. These projects are key to maintaining the service and quality of Northern Ireland Water Treatment Works.
