NI Water awards £240m contracts to local businesses

    NI Water has awarded a major contract valued at a total of up to £240 million to three local businesses: Meridian Utilities Ltd, McAllister Bros Ltd and Road Safety Contracts Ltd.

    Jane Mellor, Head of Procurement at NI Water, commented, “The tender process for this contract was very rigorous so I am delighted that NI Water is awarding such a high value contract to three local businesses.

    “The contract supports NI Water in meeting its strategic priorities by providing repair and maintenance services to our extensive network of watermains and sewers.  Day in, day out, every single night and day of the year, no matter the weather, the successful contractors will work closely with NI Water to make sure high quality drinking water comes out of everyone’s taps and that sewage is safely taken away from our homes, businesses and public buildings.”

    Meridian Utilities Ltd, a Joint Venture Company consisting of three local companies, Morrow Contracts Ltd, Mills Contracts Ltd and T O’Connell & Sons are based in Gilnahirk, Belfast and have offices in Dungiven and Omagh.

    Tony Budde and Ivan Jackson- NI Water, Joseph McHugh- RSC Group, Vincent O’Neill- Meridian Utilities Ltd, Des Nevin- NI Water, Peter McAllister- McAllister Bros Ltd, Jane Mellor- NI Water, Barry Smyth- Meridian Utilities Ltd, Sylvia McCay- RSC Group.

    Meridian Utilities Ltd will support NI Water through a £184 million Water and Wastewater Networks Services contract, providing a range of water and sewerage services, including sewer and watermain repairs and maintenance; leakage repairs, street furniture maintenance and minor water and sewerage infrastructure improvements.

    McAllister Bros Ltd established in 1971 has remained a family run business for over 45 years. Headquartered in Newry, with offices in London, Belfast, Eglington and Horton, the McAllister Group of companies employ over 130 staff and operate a fleet of over 95 vehicles across its Ireland and Great Britain divisions.

    Ivan Jackson- NI Water, Vincent O’Neill- Meridian Utilities Ltd, Des Nevin- NI Water, Barry Smyth- Meridian Utilities Ltd, Jane Mellor- NI Water.

    This new contract will provide NI Water with strategic support in the delivery of sewer network maintenance activities including clearing of sewer blockages, cleaning of sewer network and CCTV surveys with an estimated value of £43 million.

    Set up in 1983 by three brothers, Eamon, Joseph and John McHugh, Road Safety Contracts (RSC Group) is a progressive company operating in the Waste Management, Environmental Maintenance and Road Marking sectors. With a contract to the value of £13m, they will support NI Water by desludging septic tanks for those customers not connected to the sewer network.