Over 450,000 customers across Edinburgh and Midlothian will benefit from drinking water supplied by a new state-of-the-art water works, Alex Neil said today.

The Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment was speaking as he switched on the tap at Scottish Water’s new Glencorse Water Treatment Works.

The new site completes Scottish Water’s major water infrastructure investment for Edinburgh and the Lothians to deliver high quality water.

Mr Neil said: "Scotland’s water is one of our prize assets.

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"The Glencorse Water Project has been a feat of outstanding engineering, delivering a 21st century water treatment works fit for Scotland's inspiring capital. The construction has also drawn global attention and won many prestigious accolades.

"This type of project not only makes a real difference to customers, it has helped keep investment flowing into our economy. Scottish Water’s overall £500 million programme is supporting jobs and boosting growth right across this country.

"Against this background of investment in our economy, Scottish Water froze water charges again this year, achieving the lowest average household bills across Great Britain. That will be of real benefit to customers in these tough economic times and underlines the benefits of retaining Scottish Water in the public sector.

"As we prepare to make decisions about our nation’s future in a referendum in autumn 2014, our vision of Scotland as a hydro nation will play a key part in our plans to develop a low carbon economy, boost growth and create jobs."

(GK)