Borders MSP Jeremy Purvis is raising a glass to Scottish Water. The £25 million investment to deliver clearer, fresher drinking water to our customers across the south west is progressing well.
Mr Purvis, centre, is commending Scottish Water’s investment in the Borders, which is every bit as significant for local customers as the Katrine project for Glasgow and Edinburgh’s Glencorse.
He said: “I am very pleased to see the level of investment by Scottish Water to improve water quality for my constituency. As part of the huge investment throughout the central Borders in this period we will see the improvement of water quality for over half of the population of the region, a very impressive development. This long planned, but nevertheless unprecedented improvement is very welcome.”
Craig Lawson, Scottish Water’s Regional Manager for the Borders is delighted with the level investment being rolled out across the region. He said:
“Scotland’s Drinking Water Quality Regulator has applauded the further improvements to the quality of drinking water across the country and in the Borders Scottish Water is investing millions to maintain these levels of improvement for many years to come.
“We want our customers to enjoy the look and taste of their water and that is why we are investing millions across the region. We also want our customers to have a cool, clear stream of drinking water at what ever time of day or night they turn on their tap. That is why we are simultaneously improving ageing water mains with more durable plastic pipes.”
Last year alone Scottish Water delivered more than £12 million of investment in the Borders. This year Scottish Water is on course to deliver more than £18.6 million throughout the region.
That investment has included the recently completed £10 million upgrade of the Howden Water Treatment Works (WTW) which will deliver clearer fresher drinking water to nearly 17,000 customers throughout the Central Borders from Selkirk and Melrose to parts of Galashiels.
Design of the new 12 million litre clear water storage tank is currently being developed and should commence on site early next year and will take a year to complete. Final works on the new membrane plant and treatment facilities are reaching their completion.
When completed late in 2009, nearly 42,000 customers in the Hawick, Jedburgh, St Boswells and Kelso areas will benefit from the £14.7 million investment to combine 3 plants into one. Ageing works at Dodburn and Acreknowe will be made redundant with clearer, fresher drinking water delivered from an improved and refurbished Roberton WTW.
The facility will now be capable of producing 16 million litres of drinking water every day. The Borders is one of Scotland’s most rapidly expanding areas and additional capacity has been built into the works in order to meet future demand. A robust new main will also be constructed to transfer customers on the existing Acreknowe and Dodburn supplies, delivering improved quality drinking water direct to customer’s taps from the new Roberton works.
At the Rawburn WTW a £700,000 investment will also help to deliver clearer, fresher drinking water to our customers across Berwickshire. This investment will deliver improvements to the secondary treatment process.
Communities Manager, Bill Elliot insists local people are helping to mould projects which will benefit their communities:
“We’re listening to local communities across the region and we’re delivering on their needs. Not only are we investing to deliver clearer, fresher drinking water direct to customers taps at whatever time of day or night they need it, but we are also investing millions to improve the local environment by upgrading a number of wastewater treatment works across the Borders.”
Scottish Water’s chief executive Richard Ackroyd concluded: “We want customers throughout the Borders to be re-assured that we are producing the benefits to the water industry that communities need. Millions of people across Scotland are now turning on their taps to the best drinking water they’ve ever had. The environment is cleaner and customer service is improving. This is while we are delivering value for money for our customers for every pound they spend.
“We are aware of the tough economic pressures on our customers and we work to ensure that every pound represents value for money for all our customers. Across Scotland our customers can see improvement as we tackle leakage, improve the quality of rivers and coastal waters and reduce the number of homes at risk of sewer flooding.”
Customers can keep up to date and comment on the work by visiting our special website www.scottishwater.co.uk/Borders2010.
