Work is continuing on a £15 million water network upgrade project in the Outer Hebrides.

Scottish Water is currently building a new Water Treatment Works to serve the North Uist and Berneray islands.

A key element of the project, the Transportable Treatment Unit (TTU) is now set to make its way to the project site having been designed, built and tested by Ross-shire Engineering at its specialised facility in Muir of Ord.

The TTU will be dismantled into 12 modules which, together with a 150 tonne crane, will make the 128-mile journey by road to Uig in Skye in six convoys over the next three weeks.

From Uig, they will make the crossing by CalMac ferry to Lochmaddy, before completing the short onward journey to their permanent home. The first two convoys are set to depart from Muir of Ord at 9am on Monday, 18 June and on Thursday, 21 June.

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The installation of the new Water Treatment Works follows on from the recent laying of a new water main between Lochmaddy and Bayhead.

Earlier stages of work at the Lochmaddy site have included rock blasting to create the platform area where the water treatment modules will be reassembled, together with groundwork and the construction of an access track to the site of a new pumping station by Loch Fada. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

Scottish Water project manager, Anoushka Ainslie-McAlpine, said: "These deliveries represent an exciting milestone for this project which, once complete, will see a single, improved water supply in place for Scottish Water's customers across North Uist and Berneray.

"The way in which this project is being delivered is a great example of Scottish Water and Ross-shire Engineering working together in an innovative way to deliver lasting benefits for customers.

"Assembling and testing the Water Treatment Works under factory conditions offers major advantages compared with a much longer, more complex and less controlled traditional construction method on site."

Scottish Water Corporate Affairs Manager Gavin Steel added: "We recognise that these deliveries are taking place at a busy time for the Highland transport network and will do all we can to keep any disruption to a minimum.

"The new Water Treatment Works at Lochmaddy will offer improved security of supply for the communities it serves; and ensure that our customers continue to receive high quality, great tasting drinking water into the future."

(LM/MH)