Approximately £17.5 million is to be invested to upgrade water supplies for communities in the Western Isles.

Scottish Water is planning to build a new £15 million water treatment works at Lochmaddy, while £2.5m is being invested to upgrade treatment works at Gobhaig as well as lay 5km of new water main to connect it with Huisinis. In addition, a new balancing tank will be added at Miabhaig with further water treatment works at Cliasmol being retained.

Plans have been approved for the Lochmaddy scheme and construction is scheduled to start in the coming months. Alongside a new water main between Lochmaddy and Bayhead which is already well advanced, the project will provide a single, improved water supply for customers all over North Uist.

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Both developments form part of a £60m investment package to deliver across the Western Isles by 2021. Subject to relevant consents, the projects are scheduled to be complete by the end of 2018.

Scottish Water Director of Capital Investment Mark Dickson said: "These projects for North Uist and Harris confirm our continuing commitment to our customers in the islands - and there is more to come.

"Both of these proposals have been carefully scrutinised to make sure they address the objectives set for us by Ministers and Regulators whilst delivering the maximum benefit for every pound we spend.

"We recognise that the proposal for North Harris is a reduced level of investment compared with the longer water main from Tarbert that was previously proposed. However, we believe that the new scheme can meet the current and future needs of our customers by making use of the existing good quality water resources in the area. There is significant capacity to accommodate planned development and new connections from properties currently served by private water supplies."

(LM/MH)