NI Water has adapted new technology to assist with the impact of climate change on drinking water supplies.
In the village of Moneymore, Londonderry, abstraction has successfully sourced sustainable groundwater. This will not only improve the resilience of supply for over 2,000 customers but will lower carbon emissions and energy costs because of reduced pumping and the use of solar energy.
The initiative by NI Water, in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, uses boreholes at an existing service reservoir in Moneymore, to access the long-term, resilient water supply.
The successful exploration project is part of NI Water’s strategy to help address the climate emergency. As Northern Ireland’s single largest electricity consumer, the company aims to develop new approaches to sustainably deliver water services and help society become carbon neutral by 2050.
Mark Herron, NI Water Project Manager Business Improvement, explained: “Groundwater is stored underneath the earth’s surface and is a largely unused water source in Northern Ireland. It is also naturally filtered through rocks, so requires minimal treatment to make it drinkable.
“This innovative solution will not only provide water in all weathers but reduces chemical use and carbon. It is a fantastic local natural resource which will allow NI Water to strengthen its long-term water supply resilience.”
NI Water has also been able to use solar panels to reduce electricity for abstraction and treatment of the water. The use of activated filter media (recycled glass) ensures the water is treated to the required drinking standards.
Maynard Cousley, Head of Water Supply, commented, “While much of Northern Ireland’s water supply is captured on higher ground through reservoirs, a significant proportion is drawn from lower lying loughs and rivers. This water often requires more treatment and pumping which increases emissions from fossil fuel generated electricity. In recent years we have also seen several unusually long dry spells and elevated temperatures, which create periods of exceptionally high demand for water.
“As a result, NI Water has faced increased water supply challenges and has been actively looking for a solution. We have learned a lot from this project and are keen to understand how other areas may benefit from this technology.
“We are delighted that over 2,000 customers in Moneymore will now have a sustainable supply thanks to groundwater sources and the resilience of the supply to a large number of customers in the wider Mid Ulster area will have been enhanced by the introduction of this new source. Thank you to all colleagues involved in this innovative initiative. It is a promising sign of what NI Water can deliver across the region in the future.”
For more details about NI Water’s plans, see niwater.com/climatechange.
