£10m project means we can tap into better water

A MULTI-million pound project to provide better drinking water for 130,000 people in Edinburgh and the Lothians has been completed.

Scottish Water spent 10 million on the project, which saw an upgrade to the Marchbank water treatment works near Balerno.

The water company said the project would deliver clearer, fresher drinking water to customers from Leith, Granton and Colinton into West Lothian, as far as Kirkliston, Kirknewton and parts of Livingston.

The two-year long investment project was carried out by engineering firm Morrison Enpure Joint Venture.

Project manager Ian Morton said: "This has been a challenging project, but one that we are very proud of.

"This 10 million project will now deliver clearer, fresher drinking water to Scottish Water customers in Edinburgh and West Lothian.

"Together with Scottish Water's investment at Glencorse this will improve the quality of drinking water to more than half a million people across Edinburgh and the Lothians"

The improvements at Marchbank include a state-of-the-art Dissolved Air Flotation process which allows raw water to be treated to a better standard.

Capacity has also increased, from 50m litres of water a day to around 62m litres - enough to fill the Commonwealth Pool more than 20 times every day.

Ian Skilling, Scottish Water's operations manager for Edinburgh and the Lothians, said: "The project team are to be congratulated in delivering such a significant project and with minimum disruption to local customers.

"Across the Capital and into the Lothians our customers are beginning to notice the tangible benefits delivered during this investment period. We are investing significantly to improve the quality of drinking water in Edinburgh"

Graham Birse, deputy chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, added: "We tend to take fresher, cleaner drinking water for granted in Scotland.

"The Marchbank works represents another significant achievement for Scottish Water in delivering high quality supplies to homes and businesses."

Over the next two years Scottish Water will look to further improve drinking water in Edinburgh and the Lothians by completing work at its water treatment facility at Glencorse.

Scottish Water is also continuing to speak to local authorities and house builders to help increase capacity, where necessary, across its network.