By Michael Alexander

SCOTTISH WATER has made a “terrific start” to bringing about the most ambitious modernisation of Scotland’s water industry quickly while saving millions of pounds in public money—but will not let its focus waver.

Scottish Water yesterday highlighted details of its ongoing £66 million investment to transform the water and wastewater infrastructure and assets across Fife.

Some of the investment, the biggest in the water industry in Scotland for generations, is already under way and in Fife includes £3.6m to replace ageing water mains, £8m improving wastewater quality, £8m improving drinking water quality and £8m on sewer improvement.

Much of the investment is being delivered by Scottish Water Solutions, the partnership of utility companies and contractors set up by Scottish Water to help deliver its capital investment programme.

The first major wave of investment covers 2002-2006.

Projects already completed or under way include West Weymss, where a £835,000 investment will finally bring to an end the unsatisfactory practice of raw sewage being pumped into the Firth of Forth; £7m earmarked for a wastewater treatment works to serve Tayport, Wormit and Newport—once complete it will give added protection to the River Tay; a £450,000 investment to upgrade St Monans wastewater treatment works will see new screens and grit removal equipment fitted at the works to remove solids from the wastewater stream; investment at Pitscottie wastewater treatment works; and £1.5m being made to replace an old wastewater treatment system at Kingsbarns.

North-east area manager Ken Hutchison said, “Scottish Water is investing at record levels in the industry in Scotland.

“At the moment, more than £40 million every month is being spent to deliver improvements for customers.

“I am delighted with the pace of change and investment across the Kingdom of Fife and even in the past two years have seen the tangible benefits this brings to the coastal environment as well as the continued improvement in drinking water quality and service.

“There are no short term fixes after so many decades of under-investment.

“We realise there are still huge amounts of effort and investment required but with all of our partners we remain totally committed to adding improvement upon improvement.”

Scottish Water Solutions north-east area delivery manager Andy Sharples said, “Since we were formed just over a year and a half ago, the pace of investment has accelerated and there is barely a community in Scotland which has not seen our workmen delivering improvements in their area.

“We are now completing £40 million worth of work every month to deliver clear, measurable and thoroughly welcome improvements in Scottish Water’s services.

“People are already noticing far cleaner beaches and rivers, improved drinking water quality, a faster and more efficient response to customer problems and reduced flooding risks. And this is just the start.”