News / Whalsay water upgrade
SCOTTISH Water is investing over £5 million in constructing a new water treatment plan to serve the island of Whalsay, with work due to begin at the end of this month.
The new plant will replace an existing treatment plan on the island, which has a population of around 1,000. A new pumping station will be built next to the existing one on the banks of Loch Huxter, while a new 700-metre water main will be constructed.
Scottish Water has obtained planning permission for the £5.4 million project, which will be carried out by contractor Ross-shire Engineering and is expected to take around 10 months.
A hi-tech new filtration plant will add a “vital new level of treatment to the local supply, augmenting the existing treatment”.
Scottish Water’s senior project manager David Kitching said: “The nano-filtration membrane plant is the most up-to-date technology which provides a high level of filtration, treatment and control to the water.
“This modern treatment works is the best in class and comes after an exhaustive design and planning process.
“It will give new levels of quality and resilience of supply for the people it serves and will secure the quality of water supply in the area for the next 20 or 30 years at least.”
The main works will begin on 29 August, but there may be some activity to prepare the site before then.
Construction vehicles will be accessing the site regularly while there will be associated construction noise, which Scottish Water said it would keep to a minimum.
There may also be some roadworks and the use of temporary traffic lights, but the work should not lead to any disruption to islanders’ water supply.
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