Communities in the Western Isles are to benefit from Scottish Water investment worth around £17.5 million in two major projects designed to boost the quality and resilience of water supplies.
Plans for a new water treatment works at Lochmaddy have been given the green light, with construction set to begin in the coming months. Alongside a new water main between Lochmaddy and Bayhead which is already well advanced, the project will provide a single, improved water supply for Scottish Water customers all over North Uist at an estimated cost of around £15 million.
Following a review of investment options for four existing small water treatment works in North Harris, Scottish Water has identified a significant scheme, with estimated value in the region of £2.5 million, to upgrade its treatment works at Gobhaig and lay 5km of new water main to connect it with Huisinis, where the existing treatment works would no longer be required.
Investment is also planned to add a new balancing tank at Miabhaig; and a further water treatment works at Cliasmol would be retained.
Subject to relevant consents, both projects are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2018. They form the first major elements of a £60 million package of investment which Scottish Water expects to deliver across the Western Isles by 2021. The figure is equivalent to over £2,000 for every customer in the islands.
Scottish Water Director of Capital Investment Mark Dickson said:
“Since Scottish Water was formed in 2002, we have invested almost £130 million in improving the services we provide to customers all over the Western Isles. These projects for North Uist and Harris confirm our continuing commitment to our customers in the islands - and there is more to come.”
“In making this level of investment, it is crucially important that we deliver value for money. Both of these proposals have been carefully scrutinised to make sure they address the objectives set for us by Ministers and Regulators whilst delivering the maximum benefit for every pound we spend."
“We recognise that the proposal for North Harris is a reduced level of investment compared with the longer water main from Tarbert that was previously proposed. However, we believe that the new scheme can meet the current and future needs of our customers by making use of the existing good quality water resources in the area. There is significant capacity to accommodate planned development and new connections from properties currently served by private water supplies.”
Chief Operating Officer Peter Farrer said that Scottish Water’s overarching objective was to offer the same service at the same price to all its customers everywhere and that both of the projects, and others in the pipeline, would offer significant opportunities for the local supply chain.