A total of £600,000 is to be invested at the Balmaha Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW), it has been announced.

The project, being carried out by contractors Veolia Water on behalf of Scottish Water, will see the east section of Loch Lomond benefit from the investment and allow the utility provider to continue protecting the loch's natural environment.

The work is expected to commence on 1 September and is scheduled for completion by March 2015. The project will involve the upgrading of the WWTW, by carrying out improvements to the main process unit, while the installation of new pumps will improve the efficiency of the facility.

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Loch Lomond attracts about a million tourists a year and is used on a daily basis for recreational purposes, such as boating, fishing and swimming. Scottish Water has said the project will be contained on the WWTW site and is not expected to cause disruption to the local community. Some construction traffic will be present, however.

Jane MacKenzie, Scottish Water's regional communities team manager, commented: "Loch Lomond is arguably the most famous loch in the whole of Scotland and everyone knows how important it is to the country and our tourist industry.

"So Scottish Water's investment at Balmaha is important as it will substantially improve the WWTW and enable it to continue treating waste water in the area as efficiently as possible for years to come.

"This, in turn, will enable the facility to continue meeting its SEPA consent requirements and continue helping to protect the natural environment of this beautiful and popular corner of Loch Lomond."

(JP/MH)