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Project Overview
Scottish Water manages over 300 reservoirs across Scotland, a network principally designed and built by our predecessor organisations since the Victorian era.
Since our formation in 2002, we've been investing in our network to improve resilience and water quality, which means we are reducing the number of operational Water Treatment Works and, in parallel, the number of reservoirs required. As a result, Long Loch is no longer used to supply drinking water to customers.
The management of reservoirs and dams is closely regulated under the Reservoirs (Scotland) Act 2011, with periodic inspections by independent, specialist engineers.
Following the most recent inspection at Long Loch, there is a requirement that Scottish Water takes action to ensure the reservoir is managed on a safe and sustainable basis. In practice, this means that we need to lower the level of the loch by December 2026.
At a Glance
- To prevent sewer debris entering the Water of Leith
- Enhancing the aesthetic and natural water environment
- Delivered by Caledonia Water Alliance
- Work began in June 2025
Dalgety Bay
The project will help prevent rags, wet wipes and other sewer related debris from entering the watercourse
What We Are Doing
The water level of Long Loch will be lowered.
The loch will remain as part of the local landscape, but at a lower level. Over time, the landscape will return to a more natural state.
The loch will remain accessible for the community, visitors, and wildlife.
What does this mean for Long Loch?
Under all proposals under consideration to fulfil Scottish Water's legal duties, a loch will remain as part of the local landscape. A lower water level will allow the landscape to return to a more natural state over time.
The loch will remain accessible for the benefit of the community, visitors and wildlife in the area. The safety risks and maintenance costs will be reduced, reflecting that there is no longer a need to store extra water for the purposes of supplying drinking water to communities.
Community Engagement
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Latest Update
We know that changes to Long Loch might be unsettling and that the water and landscape has been enjoyed by the community for many years. We are committed to ensuring that continues to be the case in the future.
We’ve been engaging with local stakeholders and have investigated a number of options to find an environmentally and financially viable solution for both Scottish Water and the local community.
We aim to communicate transparently - and welcome collaboration with stakeholders to enable concerns to be understood and addressed. We will update this page with more information as we make progress.
