Flood Worries Subside Thanks To Castletown Sewer System

8th July 2009

Properties in the Caithness village of Castletown that have experienced flooding in recent years are benefiting from the completion of a £136,000 Scottish Water project to upgrade the local sewer system.

An investigation showed that a section of pipe under Main Street struggled to cope during downpours of heavy rain, causing water and sewage to back up and flood nearby properties. Work started at the end of April to replace the sewer with larger pipes to enable the system to cope better.

The project is part of Scottish Water's 2010 Vision for the Highlands, the £200million campaign of improvements across the region. By 2010 Scottish Water expects to have invested around £20million in Caithness & Sutherland since 2006, while the average household water bill remains below £1 a day. People can find out more at www.scottishwater.co.uk/highlands2010.

NEW SYSTEM COPED DURING RECENT DOWNPOUR
Iain Bond, Scottish Water's Asset Planner for Caithness, said: "Sewer flooding within a property is a distressing event so the completion of this project will deliver real benefits for the community of Castletown. In fact, the system had its first real test last week during a heavy downpour. By all accounts it coped well. I'd like to thank local people for their patience during the work as it involved some traffic management in the main street. The new sewer system will serve the community well for many years to come."

Rosemary Macleod, proprietor of the Haircraft hairdressing business in Castletown Main Street, said: "We were flooded twice and it was dreadful so we're delighted with the improvements Scottish Water have made. During the heavy rain last week we noticed the water in the street swirling and getting away, which was a great relief. And during the work the contractors out in the street were very accommodating and did a great job."

Andrew Sinclair from Orkney was the main contractor during the work.