Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has welcomed the completion of a major Scottish Water project.

The project, valued around £1.5m, saw new water mains installed in the Scottish Borders, allowing villagers in Heriot to benefit from access to high-quality water. The water is being supplied by Scottish Water's treatment works at Rosebery, and pumped through five miles of new pipes.

A similar investment has resulted in completion of a five-mile gravity main running from Selkirk to Yarrowford. This means water in the area is now supplied from the treatment works at Howden, which itself has already benefited from a £10m investment.

Customers in the Bonchester area are also benefiting from a new supply thanks to a new gravity main from the Roberton water treatment works and a new pumping station. This work has been carried out at a cost of around £3m.

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Completion of this project means Scottish Water will be able to provide water which has been subject to the very best treatment processes at Rosebery and Roberton, where a £14.7m refurbishment was completed in 2011.

It also enhances security of supply for customers while reducing energy consumption.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "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.

"This major infrastructure investment by Scottish Water in the Borders is good news for domestic and business customers in the area.

"It illustrates how Scottish Water is delivering essential services to our communities across Scotland."

Scottish Water's Regional Community Manager Bill Elliot added: "The creation of new pipes and mains will ensure more of our customers in the Borders have access to high-quality drinking water, which has been treated to the highest standard in refurbished treatment works.

"Scottish Water continually invests in enhancing Scotland's water infrastructure and completion of this latest project is a real boost for the Scottish Borders."

(JP/CD)