Scottish Water announces new waste water treatment works at Lochgilphead and Ardrishaig near completion

It’s been a major project lasting around three years and costing £15 million but Scottish Water say the series of projects to improve the natural environment in the Lochgilphead and Ardrishaig area is about to be completed.

The company says that the new collection and transfer system, which includes an upgrade to the Kilmory Waste Water Treatment Works (completed earlier this year), will substantially improve the natural environment by putting an end to the discharging of raw waste water into Loch Gilp.

The new system includes improved storage and additional pipes and will reduce the frequency of discharges to the loch in storm conditions. (These discharges in such conditions are authorised by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.)

The new system will also significantly improve the quality of effluent to meet the requirements of the Urban Waste Water treatment Directive (UWWTD) by providing screening for the first time.

Scottish Water’s Regional Manager, Chris Toop, says: ‘Scottish Water takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously and this work is another example of how we are doing all we can to invest in our systems and help improve the quality of our rivers, seas and lochs and ensure a cleaner, fresher environment for our customers’.

Jane McKenzie, Scottish Water’s regional community manager, speaking of the traffic flow controls necessary during the long project, adds: ‘We did all we could to minimise disruption to traffic and local residents. But we appreciate that there was some disruption during this important series of projects and we would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding’.