Early in 2007 Scottish Water identified £50 million pounds of funding across Dumfries and Galloway.

Clearer, Fresher drinking water

Scottish Water has  identified a number of significant projects to provide clearer, fresher drinking water for customers across the south west. Nearly a third of Scottish Water’s budget for the region, over the year ahead, will be directed towards improving the quality of drinking water to more than 120,000 people.

Among the key projects are:

• The £12.5 million Killylour WTW, which will deliver improved quality drinking water to more than 40,000 people in Dumfries. This significant
  project, which will begin in late 2008, will also help the local authority meet growth targets for the town of nearly 5000 more inhabitants.
• Around 8,000 people from Auldgirth to Thornhill and Penpont to Parkgate will receive clearer, fresher drinking water as a result of the
  £4 million upgrade of the Kettleton WTW. This significant project will be delivered in summer 2008.
• With the delivery of the new £12 million Penwhirn pipeline in the summer the majority of the south west, from Glenluce to Newton Stewart will benefit from improved quality drinking water.
• The £4 million project to improve the Black Esk works will provide clearer, fresher water to customers in the Eskdale and Annadale areas of the south west. This project will be completed in early summer 2008.

Clearer, Fresher Environment 

A number of rivers will benefit from projects upgrading and improving wastewater treatment works across the region.

Among the key projects already identified are :

• In Dumfries around 30,000 people will benefit from the £10 million upgrade of the Troqueer Wastewater Treatment Works. The improvements will also help to improve the long-term quality of the River Nith flowing through the town.
• The £6 million pounds upgrade of the Dalscone WwTW, also serving Dumfries, will allow the local authority to meet growth projection targets, helping around 3,000 additional people to settle in the town.
• A scheme is planned for Canonbie WwTW. This multi-million pounds project will not only allow for growth, but will also help to improve the quality of the River Esk, a significant salmon and trout fishery.

Growing, thriving community

We are aware of the increased demand for new homes in parts of Dumfries and Galloway and the local authority has provided us with lists of their priority projects, we are phasing our investment in line with their plans. Across the south west 13 per cent of our budget for the next year is targeted towards growth.

Some of these key projects include:

• The local authority has identified need for growth in the Dumfries area, which Scottish Water is helping to cater for with the £12.5 million upgrade of the Killylour WTW and the £10 million improvement programme at Troqueer WwTW and the £6 million WwTW at Dalscone. This will create additional capacity for a further 5000 residents.
• Kettleton WTW’s £4 million upgrade, which will be delivered early in the spring will allow for growth in the communities of Thornhill, Penpont, Moniave, Auldgirth and Parkgate.
• When completed in early spring, the £1.1 million project to extend nearly
  4 miles of new water mains at Loch Fergus will not only alleviate pressure problems in the area, but will also enable an element of growth.
• Growth will also be provided with the construction of new £1 million Wastewater Treatment Works at Lochfoot, with another new works also planned for Crocketford. While refurbishing the WwTWs at Penpont, Kirkcowan and Ecclefechan will also provide additional growth.
• And beginning in the early spring, the £2.1 million investment at Lockerbie WwTW will allow this strategically placed town to expand by a further 370 residents.