Leakage Team Targets Dalneigh, Inverness

4-Aug-08

Scottish Water’s crackdown on leakage in the Highlands is about to target the Dalneigh area of Inverness.

Since first being set targets for reducing leakage by the industry regulator two years ago, Scottish Water has saved over two million litres a day escaping from the Inverness network of water mains.

Later this week work will take place in the Dalneigh area of the city to fine-tune water pressure. By reducing water pressure, the pipes are put under less strain and as a result are less likely to leak. A balance must be struck however, as customers expect a good level of pressure to enable them to operate modern household appliances.

Mike Wiltshire, Scottish Water’s leakage manager for the Highlands, said: “At the moment the Dalneigh area receives a constant level of pressure regardless of customer demand. By fine tuning the pressure in local areas we can make big savings. This has already proved successful in other communities. During the work in Dalneigh any customer who experiences a change in pressure they’re not happy with should contact us so we can refine what we’re doing. We are serious about tackling leakage but must also ensure a good service to our customers.”

Scottish Water can be contacted on 0845 601 8855 or via this website - click on 'Contact us' at the top of this page.

AREA AFFECTED

Work to adjust special valves is expected to start on Thursday 7 August and should be complete within a few days. The area affected is Dalneigh, including Ballifeary, Glenurquhart Road, Montague Road and Rangemore Road.

SAVING A HIGH QUALITY, VALUABLE PRODUCT

In the past leakage wasn’t a priority for the water industry as drinking water only received basic treatment. But now drinking water is a high quality, valuable product made in multi-million pound treatment works so it makes financial as well as environmental sense to prevent it being wasted.

Scottish Water recently doubled the number of engineers and technicians to ensure that reducing leakage is a top priority for the business. Over the past two years, reported leakage has been reduced in Scotland by 180 million litres a day.

Scottish Water has met the target to install measurement equipment within its network of 47,000 kilometres of water mains. Over 94% of all properties in Scotland are now covered, providing a much clearer picture of leakage. This will ensure resources and increased investment are put in the right areas.