North Uist water supply improvements

Scottish Water is investing £15m to provide a single, improved water supply for our customers across North Uist and Berneray.

A new water main connecting Lochmaddy and Bayhead was completed in 2017 and work on a new Water Treatment Works (WTW) for the islands is progressing well.

The new WTW was built in modules by Ross-shire Engineering at their specialised factory in Muir of Ord before being transported to the site, next to the existing Lochmaddy works, and reassembled ahead of final commissioning. 

Before the modules’ arrival, work at Lochmaddy has included rock blasting to create the platform area where the WTW is now sited, together with construction of an access track and pumping main from a new pumping station on Loch Fada.

The investment that we are making will offer improved security of supply for communities across North Uist and Berneray; and ensure that our customers continue to receive high quality, great tasting drinking water into the future.

The new Water Treatment Works has now been successfully delivered to site and reassembled ahead of final commissioning.

The Transportable Treatment Unit (TTU) was dismantled into 12 modules which, together with a 150 tonne crane, made the journey to Lochmaddy via road and ferry in a series of convoys.

Scottish Water project manager Anoushka Ainslie-McAlpine said:

"We're very pleased that these deliveries went smoothly and would like to thank other road and ferry users for their patience while they were taking place.

"The benefit of these modules is that we were able to get construction underway as soon as the first units arrived, making for a much quicker process with less impact on the local community. 

"Work is progressing well on site and is expected to be complete by the end of the year. Once commissioning is complete, this investment will provide a single, improved water supply for customers across North Uist and Berneray."