Project Details

CLIENT

NI Water

YEAR

2023

COST

£900,000

CONSULTANT

McAdam Design

Main Contractor:

Lowry Building & Civil Engineering in partnership with FME

Sub-Contractors:

PRONTO Engineering Group, Flowtech, Park Electrical Services

OVERVIEW

FME, working alongside Lowry Building & Civil Engineering, recently completed the successful replacement and upgrade of the existing control panels and field cabling at Kilkeel Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW).

Kilkeel WwTW serves a population equivalent (PE) of 16,000, with a Flow to Full Treatment (FFT) of 144 litres per second. The site operates as an aeration-based treatment facility, relying on two oxidation ditches and two large final settlement tanks (FSTs) as its primary treatment components.

CHALLENGES AND OBJECTIVES

This was a particularly demanding project due to the requirement for full operational continuity during works. Effluent compliance remained a top priority throughout the upgrade. FME worked closely with NI Water, PRONTO Engineering Group, and other project stakeholders to deliver a carefully phased upgrade that ensured safety, quality workmanship, and uninterrupted compliance with environmental standards.

The objective was to replace outdated infrastructure with a streamlined, modernised control system that enhances the reliability, monitoring and control of the wastewater treatment process.

SCOPE OF WORKS

The scope included both mechanical and electrical upgrades across the entire treatment facility:

  1. Replacement of three existing large control panels with two back-to-back MCC (Motor Control Centre) units based on Profibus architecture. These included an IPC HMI and SCADA package and a full telemetry upgrade.
  2. Upgrade of instruments and actuators across the site to Profibus-compatible models.
  3. Installation of new flowmeters at various points in the treatment process.
  4. Integration of small proprietary control panels into the new MCC via a dedicated Profibus network.
  5. Development of a new PLC and Profibus network to manage site operations.
  6. Creation and implementation of a Functional Design Specification (FDS) to resolve legacy technical issues.
  7. Redesign and installation of upgraded lighting in the MCC room.
  8. Design and fitting of a new ventilation system to remove excess heat from the MCC room.

Over 21km of new cabling was installed during the course of the project, representing a major infrastructure investment.

PROJECT OUTCOMES

The newly installed MCC and Profibus system offers centralised, intelligent control of the Kilkeel WwTW using an IPC HMI SCADA platform. The upgrade has significantly improved:

  • System visibility and fault monitoring
  • Operational efficiency and automation
  • Long-term reliability of equipment and controls
  • Health and safety conditions in technical areas (lighting and ventilation)

This investment equips NI Water with a future proofed solution, ensuring Kilkeel WwTW continues to meet regulatory standards and environmental obligations while optimising performance.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This project was a collaborative success, made possible through close cooperation between:

  • NI Water
  • McAdam Design
  • Lowry Building & Civil Engineering
  • PRONTO Engineering Group
  • Flowtech
  • Park Electrical Services

We also recognise the dedication of our in-house project team and site staff whose efforts were instrumental to the project’s success