Scottish Water completes £8.9million drinking water project

5/2/10

The communities in Lockerbie, Dumfries, Moffat, Langholm and surrounding areas are now receiving an enhanced water supply courtesy of Scottish Water’s Black Esk facility.

The £8.9million project was delivered in three parts – a drinking water upgrade; a new security system; and a pipeline to deliver a modern water supply to the people of Langholm.

The Black Esk works - built in the 1970s and upgraded in the 80s and 90s - sits in picturesque Forestry Commission land.

£1.4million has been spent upgrading the drinking water Black Esk works to ensure it supplies clear, fresh drinking water that meets exacting standards set out by the Drinking Water Quality Regulator (DWQR).

Further investment of £129,000 has seen new fences and a hi-tech security system installed.

Finally a £7.5million, 20km-long pipeline from the works now supplies the Old Town area of Langholm. Work started on the pipeline in April 2008 and was completed April 2009.

Elaine Murray MSP, visiting the site, said: “I was very interested to see for myself the investment which Scottish Water has made in this treatment works.

“Constituents in parts of Langholm previously had problems with water contamination from time to time, which this new plant has overcome. It’s good to see investment which benefits smaller communities being a priority for Scottish Water.”

Dominic Flanagan, Project Manager, Scottish Water Solutions, said: “The upgrade work addresses previous issues with drinking water taste and odour. Variations in the treatment process produced occasional inconsistencies at customer’s taps. However, the Black Esk works is now providing a constant and reliable level of quality to customers.”

Built in 1977 and located near the village of Sandyford, the Black Esk facility receives raw water from the Black Esk reservoir. It was extended in 1987 and again in 1994 to meet demands of the growing population and now serves 32,000 people.

The Langholm pipeline was a major engineering challenge. George Learmonth, project manager for contractors GMJV, said: “The pipeline was a major civil engineering job and also a logistical and administrative challenge. Several landowners had to be consulted, a number of techniques had to be used to lay the pipeline and the team had to sometimes work in very challenging weather and terrain.”

“The old Langholm spring supply was susceptible to high levels of cryptosporidium. The new Black Esk supply offers a modern, consistent source of water for the Muckle Toon.”

The recent spend tops up previous investment at the site - £25million was spent in 2003-2007. In 2003 Scottish Water spent £21million upgrading 220 miles of water mains between Moffat, Gretna and Dumfries that carry water from the Black Esk works. A further £4 million pounds improvement package at the Black Esk works, which was completed late 2007, improved the quality of drinking water from the works.

Scottish Water is investing over £150million in Dumfries & Galloway in 2006-2010. This massive investment is bringing clearer, fresher drinking water, a cleaner environment and better customer service to the people of Dumfries & Galloway. It is also providing Dumfries & Galloway with secure jobs in the construction industry at a time when jobs are in short supply.

To protect the natural environment and facilitate construction of new developments in Dumfries and Galloway, upgrades are underway at numerous waste water treatment works and septic tanks. Two facilities which serve the urban centre of Dumfries – Dalscone and Troqueer – are being upgraded at a collective cost of £20million. The Castle Douglas facility is receiving a £9.5million upgrade and £4.2million is being invested to enhance the smaller works in Beeswing, Hightae, Crossmichael and Dunragit.