Testing Starts On New Aviemore Waterworks

Aug 25, 2011

Testing of equipment has begun on Scottish Water’s new £24million treatment works that will supply clearer, fresher drinking water to over 10,000 people in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.

The plant, which has been a year in construction at Kinakyle just south of Aviemore, will improve supplies for customers from Cromdale in the north to Newtonmore in the south. The latest estimate for it being switched on is mid-to-late October.
 
Badenoch and Strathspey MP Danny Alexander recently toured the site and said: "It was great to have an opportunity to tour the site of the new water works at Aviemore and see firsthand the impressive technology that goes into providing clean drinking water. I have no doubt that this new facility will meet the demands of the area for many generations and I look forward to it being brought into service later this year."
 
Simon Harrison, Scottish Water Operations Manager (pictured above with Mr Alexander on site), said: “It’s great to see the building complete and the treatment equipment installed and starting to be tested. This modern plant using boreholes will provide a more reliable, higher quality supply for the region with capacity to support new development. It also enables us to protect the sensitive environment of the Cairngorms. It has been a major construction project for the Aviemore area providing a real boost for the local economy.”
 
The project is being delivered by Scottish Water Solutions with construction firm Black and Veatch managing the site. At peak times about seventy people work on the site. The new supply will use boreholes to tap into an aquifer deep underground. These will be easier to access and maintain than remote and sensitive Loch Einich and its associated pipelines along the length of Glen Einich.
 
Drinking water quality will be improved, along with capacity so that future developments can be supplied without putting strain on the Cairngorms environment. In addition a large storage tank has been installed in the Aviemore area to improve Scottish Water’s ability to maintain supplies in the event of any problems.
 
To help the treatment works building blend in with its surroundings it has been given a green roof of sedum plants that retain moisture and change colour with the seasons.
 

Contact

Scottish Water

Diana Milford

E-Mail:

diana.milford@scottishwater.co.uk

Internet:

To website