New investment aims to improve quality of Oban’s drinking water

PIPES in Oban are to be refurbished to ensure customers enjoy the highest quality of drinking water well into the future.

The £200,000 project will start on Monday January 16 with work to re-line the internal surface of pipes in Glenshellach Terrace. This improves the water quality from the existing water mains by cleaning any deposits that have built up over time. Work is expected to last around eight weeks and coincides with Scottish Water’s ongoing construction of a new £29 million water treatment plant to serve the area.

The new facility, which is scheduled to open later in 2017, will serve more than 12,000 customers and have the capacity to meet extra demand during the summer – when the area’s population can double – as well as meet the requirements of future development.

Ruaridh MacGregor, communities team manager for Argyll and Bute, said: ‘Scottish Water is delivering substantial investment to ensure customers in Oban can enjoy the benefits of continuous, high- quality drinking water well into the future.

‘Work on the new Tullich water treatment works, to the south of the town, started earlier this year and is progressing well. It will ensure the water supply meets the requirements of stringent quality standards and additional demand for drinking water in one of Scotland’s most popular tourist areas. In the new year, we will start work to refurbish some of our existing water mains in the town. These essential supply pipes can vary in age and that’s why the upgrading of pipes when required is vital to ensure they are in the best possible condition – ensuring we continue to achieve maximum water quality and security of supply for our customers.’

Work on the water mains refurbishment starts on Monday January 16 and is expected to last for around eight weeks. Work is being carried out by Scottish Water’s alliance partner, Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA).

There will be a road closure on Glenshellach Terrace at the railway bridge between Drimvargie Road and Dunuaran Road.

The date of the closure will be confirmed in the new year and will last for five days.