Duke St Sewerage Pumping Station (SPS) in Londonderry, was a £3.7 million, Design and Build contract which included three phases of work.

Works involved the closure of the Victoria Road CSO’s and upgrade of four CSOs with mechanical screening but only after the replacement of Duke St SPS and the replacement and extension of the rising main, part of which was over the Craigavon bridge and along the busiest road in Derry. This critical SPS forwards sewerage from the Waterside to the Cityside and on to Culmore Wastewater Treatment Works.

The new 11-meter deep SPS was placed in the existing car park at Waterside House a four storey piled building, beside the existing station, the river, the bridge and beside the road. The Quay Wall Sheet piling plus support walls as well as numerous existing services reduced the footprint available to us. The existing pumping main was in the way and had to be temporarily rerouted. A novel secant pile design for the pumping station allowed for a much safer construction phase for both the new pumping station and the surrounding infrastructure as it ensured a dry excavation and reduced the risk of ingress of water and collapse of the structure.

Following completion, Duke Street Pumping Station won the Utilities Infrastructure category at the 2012 CEF Awards. In addition, the ICE Ferguson Medal was won for best presentation, namely “Maiden City Sewers” presented by representatives from the project team.