£444,000 Overhaul For Caithness Water Mains

3rd April 2008

Further water supply improvements are in the pipeline for two Caithness communities.

Achow near Lybster and Milton on the outskirts of Wick are about to benefit from a £444,000 investment in new water mains.

The projects are part of Scottish Water's 2010 Vision for the Highlands - the £200million programme of improvements throughout the region providing more reliable supplies of clearer, fresher drinking water, protecting the environment and enabling development. Customers can keep up to date and comment on the improvements by visiting a special website: www.scottishwater.co.uk/highlands2010.

Work is due to get underway at Achow next week (w/b 7 Apr) and at Milton later in the month. Both projects are expected to take eight weeks to complete. Old cement pipes dating from the 1950s and 60s will be replaced with new mains made from tough plastic, less prone to bursting.

Iain Bond, Scottish Water's tactical planner for Caithness, said: "Customers in Achow and Milton have experienced interruptions to their supplies in recent years due to the deteriorating condition of the old pipes. We've prioritised this renewal work and very soon customers will have more reliable supplies at their taps. Our contractors have programmed the work to keep disruption to a minimum."

At Achow 3 kilometres of pipe is being replaced at a cost of £202,000. Temporary traffic lights may be required on the A99 during part of the work.

At Milton 2.8 kilometres of pipe is being replaced at a cost of £242,000. Traffic control measures may also be required here.

The improvements at Achow and Milton come as work continues elsewhere in Caithness - at Latheron 3.8 kilometres of water mains is being replaced in a £250,000 upgrade. Work is due to be complete by the end of May. It is likely that traffic lights will be required for a few days on the A9 north of Latheron to enable contractors to safely install a water main which crosses the road.

Bi-Water Leslie is the main contractor for these projects with Caithness sub-contactor John Gunn assisting.