Edinburgh Water - History

Event

1621- First Steps towards piped water in Edinburgh. An act was passed by the Scottish parliament to use water from Comiston Springs. The people of Edinburgh welcomed the project provided it did not impose a ‘Water Tax’.

1676 -  After a 50 year delay resulting from stormy public meetings and disagreements over such a water tax, water from the Comiston Springs is piped into Edinburgh.

1720 -  More springs were tapped and a new larger pipe was constructed to bring water into the city from new supplies at Liberton and the Pentland Hills.

1761 - Further supplies obtained from Bonaly and the north side of the Pentland Hills brought by the way of Swanston by Wooden Pipes.

1790 -  Wooden pipes replaced by cast iron ones.

1819 - The Edinburgh Joint Water Company was formed after lengthy periods of drought and a lack of water. Its 1st act was to augment the supply into the city from the Glencourse valley thus creating the Glencourse Reservoir. 

Mid 1800’s - Over 200 springs now in use in the North Pentlands.

1871 -  Edinburgh Water Company was taken over by newly formed Edinburgh & District Water Company. This saw a time of expansion with new reservoirs at Gladhouse, Edgelaw and Rosebury.

1875 - 1885  Alnwickhill WTW built to treat water from reservoirs by slow sand filtration.

1895 -  Construction starts on Talla Reservoir by James Young & Son.

1905 - Talla Reservoir begins to be filled.

1909 -  New treatment works completed and opened at Fairmilehead.

1969 -  Fruid Reservoir is built.

1975 -  The nine new Scottish Regional Councils and the Islands Councils were set up to control public water supply, sewerage and sewage disposal.

1982 - The Megget Reservoir is completed which is the main source of water used by Edinburgh today.

1996 -  Three new Scottish Water Authorities were created - East, West and North of Scotland Water. They took over water and wastewater services from the former Scottish Regional Councils.

2002 -  Scottish Water was formed to improve the water industry in Scotland for the benefit of its 5 million customers. It replaced the three former water authorities.

To read a detailed history of Edinburgh please click here.