Scottish Water has announced plans for a new £25 million water treatment works that will serve customers in Peebles and Eddleston.
The utility has applied to Scottish Borders Council for planning permission to build the new works in the town to ensure it can continue to provide high quality drinking water to customers in Peebles and Eddleston.
Scottish Water plans to build the Water Treatment Works in a field to the south of the existing WTW on the outskirts of Peebles. The new works will continue to be supplied by raw water from Megget reservoir, which is the current source for drinking water in the area.
Scott Fraser, Corporate Affairs Manager at Scottish Water, said:
“Scottish Water wants to deliver a long-term, sustainable WTW that meets the needs of present and future generations.
“Peebles WTW, which we know as Bonnycraig WTW, was built in the 1970s. It is now time to upgrade the works due to its age, as like most things in life the technology and equipment has a certain lifespan.
“We decided the best option to ensure continued high quality drinking water for our customers in in the area is to build a new works, rather than try and upgrade an aging works to modern standards.”
The new works has been designed to allow for the development needs over the next 25 years and to have as little visual and environmental impact as possible. It will be supplied by a plentiful source of raw water from Megget Reservoir
Scottish Water has consulted the local community on the plans.
If approved Scottish Water hopes to start work later this year - however this will depend on the Covid-19 virus. The utility will continue to work closely with water sector partners and follow guidance from UK and Scottish Governments and the NHS.
Scottish Water’s priority continues to be the provision of water and waste water services to customers and it is still progressing with plans for investment work. However, it has temporarily halted capital investment work at live construction sites.
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